Return Pulitzers: Trump attacks NYT, Washington Post after defamation ruling
US President Donald Trump has asserted that The New York Times and The Washington Post must return the Pulitzer Prizes they received for reporting on the FBI's investigation into alleged connections between his 2016 campaign and Russia.The demand came as he hailed a major win on social media after the Florida Appellate Court on Wednesday rejected the Pulitzer Prize Board's appeal to suspend the ongoing proceedings in a lawsuit filed against it, relating to the reports covered by the two publications about the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential polls.advertisementThe board approached the Fourth District Appellate Court, requesting to pause the proceedings in the lawsuit until the MAGA leader completes his current term, according to Law & Crime News. Earlier, the board had approached a trial court to halt the proceedings in the case. The trial court had also rejected their demand.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed victory in the case involving what he called an 'illegal and defamatory' award given for 'malicious stories on the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax'. He also asserted that Pulitzer Prizes were given for spreading false information."BREAKING! In a major WIN in our powerful lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize Board regarding the illegal and defamatory 'Award' of their once highly respected 'Prize', to fake, malicious stories on the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, by the Failing New York Times and the Washington Compost, the Florida Appellate Court viciously rejected the Defendants' corrupt attempt to halt the case," Trump wrote.TRUMP'S CALL FOR PULITZER TO BE RETURNEDadvertisement"They won a Pulitzer Prize for totally incorrect reporting about the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax. Now they admit it was a SCAM, never happened, and their reporting was totally wrong, in fact, the exact opposite of the TRUTH. They'll have to give back their 'Award'. They were awarded for false reporting, and we can't let that happen in the United States of America. We are holding the Fake News Media responsible for their LIES to the American People, so we can, together, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," he added.In a seven-page opinion, Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal swiftly dismissed those delaying tactics."They argue a stay of the case will avoid the constitutional conflicts arising from allowing [Trump] to proceed as a plaintiff in a state court civil action on claims that may involve his official conduct as the President,' the court writes. "[W]e deny the petition and affirm the trial court's order," the court noted, Law and Crime reported.In July 2022, the Pulitzer Board defended its decision to award the news outlets its 2018 National Reporting prize. Trump then sued the board for defamation in Florida the following December, saying it acted with malice as the "Russian collusion hoax" had been "fully and emphatically debunked" multiple times, The Week reported.Tune InTrending Reel
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