A federal judge has dismissed President Donald Trump’s $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times, ruling the complaint “improper and impermissible.” U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday, an appointee of former President George H. W. Bush, stated that the legal filing exceeded acceptable bounds, calling it a “megaphone for public relations” rather than a formal legal argument.

Merryday’s four-page ruling criticized the lawsuit for failing to meet procedural standards, noting it included “repetitive, and laudatory (toward President Trump) but superfluous allegations.” The judge gave Trump’s attorneys 28 days to refile the case in a “professional and dignified manner,” without addressing the substance of the defamation claim.

The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, accused the Times of publishing “falsehoods” through articles including one about former White House chief of staff John Kelly’s warning that Trump would rule like a dictator, another detailing the production of The Apprentice, and coverage of controversies surrounding the president. Trump’s legal team described the case as a “powerhouse lawsuit,” vowing to hold the outlet accountable.

The New York Times rejected the complaint as “without merit,” with executive editor Joseph Kahn asserting the filing was “wrong on the facts; wrong on the law.” The outlet emphasized its commitment to defending against what it called baseless legal actions.

Merryday’s decision highlighted that while lawyers have some leeway in pleading cases, Trump’s complaint veered into “the functional equivalent of the Hyde Park Speakers’ Corner,” blending legal arguments with political rhetoric. The judge noted the filing referenced topics ranging from “persistent election interference from legacy media” to defenses of Trump’s personal and business history.