A top Trump campaign adviser is taking legal action against left-leaning media, fighting back against misleading reports about campaign finances. The battle highlights the ongoing war between Trump allies and media outlets that conservatives have long accused of biased coverage.
At a glance:
• Chris LaCivita, senior Trump political adviser, has filed a defamation lawsuit against The Daily Beast
• The outlet falsely reported LaCivita made $22 million from the Trump campaign, later revising to $19.2 million
• LaCivita claims the money was primarily for advertising, not personal gain
• The lawsuit alleges the reporting damaged LaCivita’s reputation and caused business losses
• The Daily Beast refuses further retractions, calling the lawsuit “meritless” and an attempt to “silence the independent press”
Trump Adviser Fights Back Against “Malicious” Reporting
Chris LaCivita, a senior political adviser for President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, has launched a legal battle against The Daily Beast, alleging the liberal outlet published damaging and false information about him during the presidential race. The lawsuit comes as the latest chapter in the ongoing tension between Trump’s team and mainstream media outlets.
In court documents, LaCivita claims the outlet published “malicious” reporting “with reckless disregard for the truth,” creating a false narrative about his compensation and role in the campaign. The lawsuit, backed by the Republican National Committee, represents another front in conservatives’ fight against what many see as biased media coverage.
At the center of the lawsuit is an article written by Michael Isikoff, which initially claimed LaCivita made $22 million from the Trump campaign. The figure was later revised to $19.2 million after complaints, but even this adjusted number misrepresents the situation, according to LaCivita’s legal team.
The lawsuit contends that the funds were primarily allocated for advertising expenses, not personal compensation. LaCivita’s team demanded multiple retractions based on official campaign finance reports, but their requests were largely ignored.
Damage to Reputation and Business
The court filing states: “Defendant’s false statements created the false impression that Mr. LaCivita was charging exorbitant rates for his services and personally enriching himself at the expense of the campaign, thereby harming his reputation as an honest, reasonable, and ethical political operative.”
This mischaracterization has reportedly caused substantial damage to LaCivita’s professional standing.
The impact of the reporting extended beyond the original article, as anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project leveraged the story in television advertisements. This amplification of the misleading claims potentially expanded the scope of damage to LaCivita’s reputation among potential clients and within political circles.
The legal action does not specify an exact amount for damages, instead leaving that determination for trial. But it will no doubt be…a lot. After all, how will these leftist rags ever learn to stop lying about people with whom they simply disagree?
Media Outlet Refuses to Back Down
The Daily Beast has displayed little willingness to accommodate LaCivita’s concerns so far, making only minor edits to the original article while refusing further retractions. A spokesperson for the outlet defiantly stated they “stand by our journalism,” characterizing the lawsuit as “meritless and a transparent attempt to intimidate the Beast and silence the independent press.”
Neil Rosenhouse, representing The Daily Beast, went further by claiming: “The Beast’s reporting that the LLC earned millions of dollars by successfully managing President Trump’s campaign is not defamatory, it is the opposite.” The outlet has indicated it plans to request Trump and various aides participate in the discovery process, suggesting a potentially contentious legal battle ahead.
