Trump drops lawsuit after leading Iowa poll proves inaccurate

In Iowa, U.S. President Donald Trump dropped a federal lawsuit against J. Ann Selzer, a prominent pollster, along with the Des Moines Register and its parent company, Gannett, concerning a poll that inaccurately showed him trailing Kamala Harris shortly before the 2024 elections. Filed in the Southern District of Iowa, the lawsuit sought damages for what Trump labeled ‘brazen election interference’ and violated consumer protections. The disagreement stemmed from a survey suggesting a close race in a state Trump had previously won decisively in 2016 and 2020. Following his victory by 13 points, Trump's team criticized the poll as misleading and harmful to his campaign. However, shortly after the dismissal in federal court, Trump's legal team refiled a similar complaint in the Iowa district court in Polk County, indicating that while they retreated from the initial suit, they were still pursuing claims. This strategy was reportedly driven by a judge's refusal to grant the president's legal team requests to shift the case back to state court. Trump was joined in the lawsuit by Iowa Republican lawmakers, indicating a broader political strategy to address challenges posed by media coverage during the campaign period. Attorney Robert Corn-Revere, representing Selzer, clarified that no financial settlement was agreed upon, and stated that they would continue to uphold Selzer’s First Amendment rights. This legal battle came shortly after the president secured a noteworthy $15 million settlement against ABC News regarding defamatory remarks made in a report, with critics arguing that media outlets should stand firm against perceived threats from political figures. Trump’s lawsuit also attracted criticism from press rights organizations, advocating for free speech and freedom of the press. Many experts labeled the legal maneuvers by Trump as chilling threats to media integrity, signifying a worrying trend of political actors challenging journalistic credibility through legal routes. The heightened tensions in the lead-up to the elections illustrated the ongoing rift between Trump and mainstream media, further muddling the political landscape in an already contentious election season.