Trump Threatens Defamation Lawsuit Against Think Tank Over Report on National Guard Deployments

President Trump’s legal team has announced a potential lawsuit against the Center for American Progress (CAP) for defamation. The think tank released a report in July stating that National Guard deployments have not decreased violent crime. Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, claims the report is damaging and includes false statements. He demanded the report be retracted, an apology be issued, and compensation provided by Friday at 5 p.m. If these demands are not met, a lawsuit seeking at least $5 billion in damages may be filed.

“This is utterly absurd: truth is not and cannot be defamation. … The right to disagree with the government, debate policies, and express dissent over policy choices is central to a functioning American democracy,” said Kevin Metz, an attorney for CAP, in a letter response.

CBS News obtained both letters and sought further comments from Brito. CAP President and CEO Neera Tanden defended the report, stating, “A fundamental protection of the First Amendment is to allow for the publication of facts and analysis that are contrary to the arguments and claims of any administration. A lawsuit is a transparent attempt to silence us. We will neither cower nor bend in the face of it.”

The Trump administration initially deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June 2025 to support federal immigration enforcement during protests. Subsequently, Trump announced troop deployments to Washington, D.C., Memphis, and New Orleans to combat crime. The criticized report analyzed crime data, concluding the deployments did not impact violent crime rates significantly. Meanwhile, FBI reports indicated a nationwide decrease in violent crime rates in 2025.

If pursued, Trump faces a challenging legal battle due to the high standard for defamation cases involving public figures. Legal expert Jessica Levinson explained that Trump must demonstrate the statement was made with actual malice—either knowing falsehood or reckless disregard for the truth.

Levinson noted it’s unlikely statistical disputes constitute defamation. Furthermore, Trump must prove the statements were understood as personal attacks rather than critiques of his administration. Trump has previously filed lawsuits against political opponents, but such actions are unlikely to succeed in this case. Tanden emphasized, “In America, profound disagreements over public policy are resolved through robust public debate, not through threats or intimidation. Independent data, evidence, and analysis are essential to that debate. Efforts to silence independent research because its findings are unwelcome by an administration or president should alarm every American.”