Donald Trump's lawsuit against Bob Woodward over audiobook is dismissed

Source: Reuters

NEW YORK, July 18 (Reuters) - Donald Trump cannot pursue his nearly $50 million lawsuit against the journalist Bob Woodward for publishing tapes from interviews for his 2020 best-seller "Rage" as an audiobook, a federal judge ruled on Friday.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe in Manhattan is a victory for Woodward, his publisher Simon & Schuster and its former owner Paramount Global (PARA.O), opens new tab.

They had argued that federal law barred the U.S. president from copyrighting interviews conducted as part of his official duties, and that no president before him ever demanded royalties for publishing presidential interviews.

The defendants also called Woodward the "sole architect and true author" of the interviews, just as journalists like the late Walter Cronkite and Barbara Walters were in interviews with other presidents.

Woodward also said his interviews reflected "classic news reporting" that helped convey accurate information to the public, and thus amounted to "fair use."

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/donald-trumps-lawsuit-against-bob-woodward-over-audiobook-is-dismissed-2025-07-18/

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