Judge dismisses Trump's lawsuit against Des Moines Register and pollster over 2024 poll

Iowa District Judge Scott J. Beattie dismissed President Trump's lawsuit accusing The Des Moines Register and its former pollster J. Ann Selzer of violating Iowa's consumer-fraud law by publishing a pre-election poll that showed him trailing Kamala Harris. In his ruling, Judge Beattie stated, 'The poll and its coverage are constitutionally protected political speech, not a commercial product, and allowing this lawsuit to proceed would chill reporting on public affairs.' The dismissal follows Trump's December 2024 lawsuit filing against the Register and Selzer, which alleged consumer fraud. Trump's legal team said they would appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court. The lawsuit was part of a broader pattern of legal actions against news organizations accused of bias.

“The poll and its coverage are constitutionally protected political speech, not a commercial product, and allowing this lawsuit to proceed would chill reporting on public affairs.” — Judge Scott J. Beattie in his ruling dismissing the lawsuit.