Iowa Judge Tosses Trump Lawsuit Over 2024 Des Moines Register Poll
Iowa District Judge Scott J. Beattie on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, dismissed Donald Trump's lawsuit accusing the Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer of misrepresenting the 2024 race under Iowa's consumer-fraud law.[1]
Beattie said allowing Trump's "faulty" claims to proceed would chill reporting and debate and that the poll and its coverage are constitutionally protected political speech, not a commercial product.[1] He wrote the complaint failed to show the legal elements of fraud or consumer deception on all three counts and would be dismissed even if the poll were assumed intentionally skewed or fabricated.[1] Trump's legal team said it will appeal the dismissal to the Iowa Supreme Court.[1] Plaintiffs included Trump, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and former Iowa state Sen. Brad Zaun, who said the poll and coverage hurt their reputations and campaign resources.[1] Pollster J. Ann Selzer was represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and USA Today Co. chief legal counsel Polly Grunfeld Sack praised the ruling.[1]
The suit had alleged the poll and subsequent coverage misrepresented the state of the 2024 presidential race and violated Iowa's consumer-fraud law.[1] Plaintiffs had sought damages under the consumer-fraud statute, saying the poll reduced their standing with voters and drained campaign resources.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Iowa District Judge Scott J. Beattie dismissed Donald Trump's lawsuit accusing The Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer of misrepresenting the 2024 presidential race under Iowa's consumer-fraud law (Iowa District Judge Scott J. Beattie).
- Beattie wrote that allowing Trump's "faulty" claims to proceed would have a chilling effect on reporting and debate over public affairs and that the poll and its coverage are constitutionally protected political speech, not a commercial product (the poll and its coverage).
- The judge said the complaint failed to satisfy the legal elements of fraud or consumer deception on all three counts and would be dismissed even if, for purposes of the motions, he assumed the poll was intentionally skewed and fabricated (the complaint).
- Trump's legal team announced after the ruling that he will appeal the dismissal to the Iowa Supreme Court (Iowa Supreme Court).
- The plaintiffs named in the suit included Trump, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and former Iowa state Sen. Brad Zaun, who alleged the poll and coverage diminished their reputations and campaign resources; pollster J. Ann Selzer was represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) (J. Ann Selzer).
- USA Today Co. chief legal counsel Polly Grunfeld Sack and J. Ann Selzer issued statements praising the ruling as a victory for First Amendment protections and for the role of a free press (First Amendment protections).
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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- On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Iowa District Judge Scott J. Beattie dismissed Donald Trump's lawsuit accusing The Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer of misrepresenting the 2024 presidential race using Iowa's consumer-fraud law.
- Beattie wrote that allowing Trump's "faulty" claims to proceed would have a chilling effect on reporting and debate over public affairs and that the poll and its coverage are constitutionally protected political speech, not a commercial product.
- The judge stated the case would have to be dismissed even if, solely for purposes of the motions, he assumed the poll was intentionally skewed and fabricated, because the complaint still failed to satisfy the legal elements of fraud or consumer deception for all three counts.
- Trump's legal team announced after the ruling that he will appeal the dismissal to the Iowa Supreme Court.
- The article notes that Trump, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and former Iowa state Sen. Brad Zaun alleged the poll and coverage diminished their reputations and campaign resources, and that Selzer was represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).
- USA Today Co. chief legal counsel Polly Grunfeld Sack and J. Ann Selzer both issued statements praising the ruling as a victory for First Amendment protections and for the role of a free press.