Singhal, who sits in federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, near Trump's home at his Mar-a-Lago resort, stated in his ruling that while CNN's statements were repugnant, they did not meet the legal standard for defamation. The judge's decision comes as a blow to Trump's legal efforts to hold the media accountable for their coverage of his claims about the 2020 election.

The lawsuit, filed in October 2022, focused on five instances in which CNN either published stories or aired comments referring to Trump's assertions about election fraud as the "big lie." The phrase, which is also associated with the Nazi regime's use of propaganda, was argued to create an association between Trump and Adolf Hitler in the minds of the audience.

However, Singhal dismissed this argument, stating that the mere use of the phrase "big lie" was not enough to give rise to a true connotation. He emphasized that no reasonable viewer could plausibly make the reference between Trump and Hitler based solely on CNN's language.

Trump's spokesperson responded to the ruling, expressing agreement with the judge's finding that CNN's statements were repugnant. The spokesperson also stated that CNN would be held responsible for their mistreatment of Trump and his supporters. However, the statement did not indicate whether Trump would appeal the judge's decision.

This lawsuit against CNN is just one example of Trump's ongoing attacks on media outlets whose coverage he dislikes. Since launching his first presidential campaign in 2015, Trump has frequently criticized CNN and other news organizations for their reporting. Despite facing both state and federal indictments, Trump remains the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.