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PoliticsQuiet 12d · day 19

Trump threatens $5B suit against think tank over National Guard crime report

Trump's lawyer demanded the Center for American Progress retract a report finding no crime-reduction effect from Guard deployments; the group refused.

newest coverage 11d agosummary written 16d ago78 pieces721 likes & upvotes28 comments MastodonRedditNewswiresGoogle NewsHacker NewsBluesky

What to know

  • Trump's attorney demanded CAP retract a report by Friday deadline or face a $5 billion defamation suit; CAP refused.
  • The disputed report found no evidence that National Guard deployments to U.S. cities reduced violent crime, contradicting Trump's public claims.
  • Critics, including the New York Times and commentators, frame the threat as part of a pattern of using litigation to intimidate critics whose speech is otherwise protected by the First Amendment.
  • As of the latest reporting, the lawsuit threat remains unresolved after the retraction deadline passed.
most voices

This is Trump using the legal system to intimidate critics for exercising First Amendment-protected speech.

  • “.. Trump's latest effort to use the legal system to punish critics for voicing unflattering facts and opinions generally protected by the First Amendment.”

    carlquintanilla.bsky.social · Bluesky
some voices

The lawsuit threat is baseless and shows contempt for legitimate research groups.

  • “Group blasts Trump's 'baseless' threats of $5B defamation lawsuit over National Guard report he didn't like”

    Independent@flipboard.com · Mastodon
some voices

Sarcastic/dismissive reactions tying the story to broader complaints about government waste and incompetence.

  • “# Taco # Nacho # News # Politics # Nato # War # ww3 # Military # Economy # USA # Bankrupt # Debt # Incompetence # Trump # Government # Waste # Debt”

    ManyRoads@mstdn.social · Mastodon

“This is what the fake "free speech" advocates have built: an administration that harasses critics.”

anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu, journalist/commentator · Mastodon · Aug 21

Donald TrumpDonald Trump President of the United StatesCenter for American Progress Left-leaning think tank / report authorTrump's personal attorney Author of the demand letter

Trump threatens $5B suit against think tank over National Guard crime report
huffpost.com

How it unfolded 4 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 31 pieces in 5h at Aug 21, 10 AM; 78 pieces over 19 days (42 articles · 36 posts) Aug 20, 7 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Mastodon 1Aug 21, 12 AM — quietAug 21, 5 AM — 7 pieces · 7 articles — Google News 5, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Aug 21, 10 AM — 31 pieces · 22 articles · 9 posts — Newswires 15, Mastodon 8, Google News 7, +1 moreAug 21, 3 PM — 20 pieces · 8 articles · 12 posts — Mastodon 9, Google News 4, Newswires 4, +3 moreAug 21, 8 PM — 4 pieces · 2 articles · 2 posts — Google News 1, Newswires 1, Mastodon 1, +1 moreAug 22, 1 AM — 4 pieces · 4 posts — Mastodon 4Aug 22, 6 AM — quietAug 22, 11 AM — 5 pieces · 1 article · 4 posts — Mastodon 3, Newswires 1, Reddit 1Aug 22, 4 PM — quietAug 22, 9 PM — quietAug 23, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Aug 23, 7 AM — quietAug 23, 12 PM — quietAug 23, 5 PM — quietAug 23, 10 PM — quietAug 24, 3 AM — quietAug 24, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Aug 24, 1 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Newswires 1, Mastodon 1Aug 24, 6 PM — quietAug 24, 11 PM — quietAug 25, 4 AM — quietAug 25, 9 AM — quietAug 25, 2 PM — quietAug 25, 7 PM — quietAug 26, 12 AM — quietAug 26, 5 AM — quietAug 26, 10 AM — quietAug 26, 3 PM — quietAug 26, 8 PM — quietAug 27, 1 AM — quietAug 27, 6 AM — 2 pieces · 2 posts — Mastodon 1, Reddit 1Aug 27, 11 AM — quietAug 27, 4 PM — quietAug 27, 9 PM — quietAug 28, 2 AM — quietAug 28, 7 AM — quietAug 28, 12 PM — quietAug 28, 5 PM — quietAug 28, 10 PM — quietAug 29, 3 AM — quietAug 29, 8 AM — quietAug 29, 1 PM — quietAug 29, 6 PM — quietAug 29, 11 PM — quietAug 30, 4 AM — quietAug 30, 9 AM — quietAug 30, 2 PM — quietAug 30, 7 PM — quietAug 31, 12 AM — quietAug 31, 5 AM — quietAug 31, 10 AM — quietAug 31, 3 PM — quietAug 31, 8 PM — quietSep 1, 1 AM — quietSep 1, 6 AM — quietSep 1, 11 AM — quietSep 1, 4 PM — quietSep 1, 9 PM — quietSep 2, 2 AM — quietSep 2, 7 AM — quietSep 2, 12 PM — quietSep 2, 5 PM — quietSep 2, 10 PM — quietSep 3, 3 AM — quietSep 3, 8 AM — quietSep 3, 1 PM — quietSep 3, 6 PM — quietSep 3, 11 PM — quietSep 4, 4 AM — quietSep 4, 9 AM — quietSep 4, 2 PM — quietSep 4, 7 PM — quietSep 5, 12 AM — quietSep 5, 5 AM — quietSep 5, 10 AM — quietSep 5, 3 PM — quietSep 5, 8 PM — quietSep 6, 1 AM — quietSep 6, 6 AM — quietSep 6, 11 AM — quietSep 6, 4 PM — quietSep 6, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 3 AM — quiet 1–34
Aug 21Aug 23Aug 25Aug 27Aug 29Aug 31Sep 2Sep 4now · 8:50 AM ET
  1. 4

    AP/PBS confirm CAP's refusal, suit threat stands

    Follow-up reporting confirmed the think tank declined the retraction demand after the deadline passed, with the $5 billion lawsuit threat still pending.

    “The center declined.”
    — Associated Press
    1. 10 outlets Trump threatens lawsuit against nonprofit that questioned whether National Guard plan lessened crime

      first by PBS NewsHour, 16d ago · also AP via Feedx, Philadelphia Inquirer, U.S. News & World Report, Boston Herald, SFGATE, AP News +3

    • jazzmind@mastodon.social

      Trump’s team is threatening a $5 billion defamation suit unless a think tank retracts a report finding his National Guard deployments didn’t lower crime. Is Trump Really Suing a Think Tank for $5 Billion Over Crime Stats? https:// jazzmind.net/is-trump-suing-th ink-tank-5-billion-crime-stats/ # claimcheck # philosophy # theproject

      jazzmind@mastodon.socialMastodon14d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 3 posts in this stretch

    • President Trump’s threat to sue a liberal think tank attempts to transform defamation law into a modern-day Sedition Act that could be wielded against journalists. https:// freedom.press/issues/the-dange rous-new-twist-in-trumps-latest-defamation-threat/

      freedomofpress@freedom.pressMastodon11d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    • ChemicalEyeGuy@mstdn.science

      # DonaldTheDeplorable # Trump continues his # war on # truth and people who think. https://www. huffpost.com/entry/trump-natio nal-guard-report-lawsuit_n_6a888559e4b021f20f8897dd # Resist . # DoNotCollaborateWithFascists in # USpol . # ElbowsUp 💪

      ChemicalEyeGuy@mstdn.scienceMastodon16d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  2. 3

    Center for American Progress declines to retract by deadline

    CAP did not comply with the Friday evening deadline set by Trump's attorney, leaving the threatened $5 billion defamation suit unresolved.

    • anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu@bsky.brid.gy

      This is what the fake "free speech" advocates have built: an administration that harasses critics. Produce research showing the expensive National Guard deployments didn't lower crime? Get sued by Trump's lawyers www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/u... Trump Threatens Defamation Sui...

      anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu@bsky.brid.gyMastodon17d ago25▲view on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 5 posts in this stretch

    • Trump threatens lawsuit over report on National Guard deployments WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is threatening to sue a left-leaning think tank unless it retracts a… # UnitedStates # US # USA # AlejandroBrito # DistrictofColumbia # DonaldTrump # generalnews # KevinGoldberg # KevinMetz # Lawsuits # militaryanddefense # NeeraTanden #…

      UnitedStates@pubeurope.comMastodon17d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    • europesays@pubeurope.com

      https://www. europesays.com/3207913/ Trump threatens lawsuit over report on National Guard deployments # AlejandroBrito # DistrictOfColumbia # DonaldTrump # GeneralNews # KevinGoldberg # KevinMetz # Lawsuits # MilitaryAndDefense # NeeraTanden # philanthropy # Politics # trump # USNationalGuard # USNews # WashingtonNews

      europesays@pubeurope.comMastodon17d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  3. 2

    Advocacy groups call the lawsuit threat 'baseless'

    Commentary circulating on social media described the $5 billion defamation threat over the National Guard report as baseless.

    1. 6 outlets Trump threatens $5 billion lawsuit over report he doesn’t like

      first by Boston Globe, 17d ago · also Independent UK, New Republic, Seattle Times, New York Times, GV Wire

      3 more headlines
    2. 2 outlets Trump threatens ‘baseless’ $5B lawsuit over National Guard report he didn’t like

      first by The Independent, 17d ago · also NYT

      1 more headline
    • carlquintanilla.bsky.social

      “.. Trump’s latest effort to use the legal system to punish critics for voicing unflattering facts and opinions generally protected by the First Amendment.” @nytimes.com

      carlquintanilla.bsky.socialBluesky17d ago634▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 3 posts in this stretch
    • realTuckFrumper@mastodon.social

      Trump Threatens $5 Billion Defamation Suit Over Report Saying National Guard Didn’t Reduce Crime # Mediaite

      realTuckFrumper@mastodon.socialMastodon17d agoview on Mastodon ↗

    • www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-... Trump Threatens To Sue Think T...

      brandibuchman.bsky.social@bsky.brid.gyMastodon17d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  4. 1

    NYT reveals letter, frames it as intimidation of a critic

    The New York Times reported on the letter and cast it as part of Trump's broader effort to use the legal system against those voicing unflattering facts and opinions otherwise protected by the First Amendment.

    “Trump's latest effort to use the legal system to punish critics for voicing unflattering facts and opinions generally protected by the First Amendment.”
    — New York Times
  5. background

    Trump's lawyer demands CAP retract National Guard report — A nine-page letter sent by Trump's personal attorney accused the Center for American Progress of having "manufactured" findings in a report on National Guard deployments and demanded a retraction by end of business Friday, threatening a $5 billion defamation lawsuit.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 2 outlets Trump threatens $5bn lawsuit over liberal National Guard policy report

    first by Guardian US, 17d ago · also Guardian

  2. 2 outlets Trump Threatens to Sue Think Tank Over Study That Exposed Folly of His DC National Guard Deployment

    first by Common Dreams, 17d ago · also Yahoo News Singapore

    1 more headline
  3. 2 outlets Trump Threatens Suit Against Think Tank Over Report He Doesn’t Like

    first by NYT Politics, 17d ago · also The New York Times

and 4 smaller pieces

What people are saying 2 voices from 1 site · best of 11 · verbatim