Author Michael Wolff filed a lawsuit against First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday after her attorneys threatened to sue him for $1 billion unless he immediately retracted and apologized for statements allegedly linking her to Jeffrey Epstein.
In his filing, Wolff argued that the threat from the First Lady’s legal team was an effort to intimidate him and discourage free expression by burdening him with potentially massive legal costs. He claimed the move was part of a broader pattern by the Trumps to silence critics through aggressive litigation tactics.
“Mrs. Trump and her ‘unitary executive’ husband, along with their MAGA loyalists, have made a habit of threatening those who speak against them with costly SLAPP suits designed to suppress speech,” Wolff wrote in the court filing. SLAPP cases, or strategic lawsuits against public participation, are legal actions intended to stifle criticism or dissent by overwhelming defendants with the expense and stress of defending themselves in court.
Wolff’s attorney, David Korzenik, told Axios that the case reflects a growing hostility toward journalists and the press. “While the First Amendment itself hasn’t changed, the environment around it has,” Korzenik said. “There’s been a coordinated effort to undermine and discredit the media, and it’s created a far more threatening atmosphere for reporters.”
Through the lawsuit, Wolff is asking the New York Supreme Court to issue a declaratory judgment affirming that his remarks were not defamatory and to award damages under the state’s Anti-SLAPP Law, which is intended to protect individuals from retaliatory lawsuits targeting free speech.
The filing underscores the ongoing tension between the press and public figures associated with the Trump administration, as legal threats continue to blur the line between protecting reputations and suppressing critical journalism.