Trump campaign chief sues Daily Beast over defamation claims

A top campaign manager for Donald Trump’s victorious 2024 presidential bid has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Daily Beast, alleging the news outlet fabricated claims about his campaign compensation and deliberately damaged his professional reputation.

Chis LaCivita’s lawsuit, filed on Monday in the US district court for the eastern district of Virginia, centers on a series of articles published in October 2024 claiming that he received up to $22m from the campaign and associated political action committees.

The case also forms part of a larger, dizzying pattern of legal confrontations between Trump as well as those in his orbit and media organizations, following similar high-profile defamation suits against major news networks. Over the years, Trump and his allies have increasingly used litigation as a tool to challenge journalistic reporting they view as hostile or inaccurate.

According to the court filing, the Daily Beast published multiple articles in 2024 suggesting LaCivita had “raked in” huge payments, including a piece by the investigative journalist Michael Isikoff that was titled Trump In Cash Crisis – As Campaign Chief’s $22m Pay Revealed.

LaCivita alleges the reporting created a “false impression that he was personally profiting excessively” and prioritizing personal gain over campaign success – which they argue has harmed his personal reputation. The lawsuit – which does not name Isikoff as a defendant – claims the multimillion-dollar figure represents gross campaign advertising expenditures, not personal income.

After initial correction demands from LaCivita’s legal team, the Daily Beast modified its reporting, reducing the claimed compensation to $19.2m and clarifying that funds went to LaCivita’s consulting firm. However, the lawsuit argues these changes did not adequately address the fundamental misrepresentation.

The complaint seeks compensatory and punitive damages, arguing the reporting has damaged LaCivita’s professional reputation. The Daily Beast has characterized the lawsuit as a “meritless” attempt to intimidate independent journalism.

“His lawsuit is meritless and a transparent attempt to intimidate The Beast and silence the independent press,” a statement from the outlet shared with the New York Times read. “The Beast will defend itself vigorously and looks forward to following the money to confirm where every penny flowed in LaCivita’s L.L.C.”

LaCivita, who now serves as the Republican National Committee (RNC)’s chief of staff and Trump campaign co-manager, is seeking millions in damages to repair his professional standing, with the lawsuit noting the more than million person reach of the allegedly defamatory reporting.

The legal action adds to a growing trend of aggressive media confrontations, which have included Trump’s $20bn lawsuit against CBS News and a $15m settlement with ABC News over a different reporting dispute.