President-elect Donald Trump has taken legal action against renowned pollster J. Ann Selzer, her polling firm, The Des Moines Register newspaper, and its parent company Gannett. This lawsuit, unlike previous cases against the media, alleges violations of the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act, which prohibits deception in advertising and selling merchandise.
While the chances of success in court for these nontraditional claims are slim, Trump is using this lawsuit to criticize what he views as left-wing media, mainstream press election coverage, and the role of pollsters in campaigns. Despite winning the 2024 election, Trump claims that the news coverage of Selzer's poll, which showed Kamala Harris leading in Iowa before the election, was designed to artificially boost Democrats during the campaign.
Media experts have expressed concerns that this lawsuit could have a chilling effect not only on news reporting but also on political polling. Selzer has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
This legal action follows Trump's recent $16 million settlement in a defamation case with a news organization. Trump and his supporters continue to criticize news outlets, issue threats, and pursue further court cases against major media organizations and a book publisher.
