Judge Pledges Ruling Soon on Trump's Lawsuit Against Iowa Paper, Pollster

The future legal path for the former president's case remains uncertain.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 4:23pm

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A district judge in Iowa has pledged to issue a ruling soon on former President Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Des Moines Register newspaper and a political pollster. The judge described the case as "frivolous" during a recent hearing, raising questions about the lawsuit's future legal path.

Why it matters

Trump's lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal battles the former president has waged against media outlets and pollsters he has accused of unfair coverage and inaccurate polling. The outcome of this case could set precedents for how public figures can pursue defamation claims against the press.

The details

In his lawsuit, Trump alleges that the Des Moines Register and pollster Ann Selzer defamed him by publishing an article and poll results that were critical of his performance. During a recent hearing, District Judge Scott Beattie expressed skepticism about the merits of the case, stating that in his 40 years of practicing First Amendment law, he couldn't recall a "more frivolous" lawsuit.

  • The hearing took place on Friday, January 30, 2026.
  • Judge Beattie pledged to issue a ruling on the case soon.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who filed the lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and a political pollster.

Scott Beattie

The district judge presiding over the case, who described the lawsuit as "frivolous" during the hearing.

Des Moines Register

The Iowa newspaper that was sued by Trump for publishing an article and poll results critical of his performance.

Ann Selzer

The political pollster who was also named in Trump's lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“I've been practicing First Amendment law for over 40 years, and I can't think of a case as frivolous as the one that we're now dealing with,”

— Scott Beattie, District Judge (The Gazette Cedar Rapids)

What’s next

Judge Beattie pledged to issue a ruling on the case soon, which will determine the future legal path for Trump's lawsuit.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between public figures, like former President Trump, and the media, as well as the challenges in balancing free speech rights with defamation claims. The judge's comments raise questions about the viability of Trump's lawsuit and the broader implications for how such cases are handled in the future.