Donald Trump is suing CNN for $475 million for defamation

Donald Trump is suing CNN for defamation, claiming the network launched a smear campaign against him.

Sky News reported the former US President is seeking $475 million (AUD $728m or £420m) in punitive damages, according to a Florida federal court filing.

In the lawsuit, which was filed yesterday (Monday, October 3), Trump said that the media company repeatedly highlighted ‘negative’ stories about him while attempting to taint his image by calling him ‘Hitler’ 'racist,' 'Russian lackey,' and 'insurrectionist.'

“Beyond simply highlighting any negative information about the plaintiff and ignoring all positive information about him, CNN has sought to use its massive influence, purportedly as a ‘trusted’ news source, to defame the plaintiff in the minds of its viewers and readers for the purpose of defeating him politically,” the filing reads, as per The Guardian.

Trump first indicated that he would be suing CNN back in July when he released a statement.

"I have notified CNN of my intent to file a lawsuit over their repeated defamatory statements against me," his letter reads, according to The Hill.

The former President added that he would also be coming after other media outlets that discredited his allegations accusing Joe Biden and his associates of election fraud.

He wrote: "I will also be commencing actions against other media outlets who have defamed me and defrauded the public regarding the overwhelming evidence of fraud throughout the 2020 Election. I will never stop fighting for the truth and for the future of our Country!"

Trump’s filing against CNN comes two weeks after a New York attorney sued him and his company for falsely inflating his net worth to secure bank loans and 'enrich himself'.

Today, I filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump for engaging in years of financial fraud to enrich himself, his family, and the Trump Organization.

There aren't two sets of laws for people in this nation: former presidents must be held to the same standards as everyday Americans.

— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) September 21, 2022

ABC News reported that in her court filing, Attorney-General Letitia James, who coined the act ‘the art of the steal’, also listed the politician's children, Donald Jr, Ivanka and Eric Trump, as defendants.

Ms James said she had uncovered more than 200 incidents of Trump manipulating asset valuations and mentioned 23 assets that she deemed ‘grossly and fraudulently inflated.’

As per ABC News, she said in a statement: "With the help of his children and senior executives at the Trump Organization, Donald Trump falsely inflated his net worth by billions of dollars to unjustly enrich himself and cheat the system.

"The pattern of fraud and deception that was used by Mr Trump and the Trump Organization for their own financial benefit is astounding.”

Trump responded to the suit, brushing it off as merely ‘another witch hunt’ , according to SBS News.

CNN has not yet released a statement in relation to Donald Trump's lawsuit.