Full Breakdown
Trump Threatens $5 Billion Defamation Suit Over Center for American Progress National Guard Report
8/21/2026, 11:59:03 PM
Core Event
President Donald Trump, through personal attorney Alejandro Brito, has warned the Center for American Progress (CAP) that he will file a $5 billion defamation lawsuit unless the think-tank retracts a July 13 report analyzing the administration’s National Guard deployments. The letter gives CAP until 5 p.m. on Friday to withdraw the study and issue an apology to the president.
Background & Context
During the past year the Trump administration deployed federalized National Guard troops to a series of U.S. cities in response to rising violent-crime concerns. CAP, a liberal policy institute, commissioned an analysis of those deployments.
Data & Statistics
- The CAP analysis covered 11 cities where Guard units were deployed or threatened.
- From June 2024 to June 2025—prior to the first deployment in Los Angeles—those cities experienced a 14 percent decrease in violent crime and a 22 percent decrease in murder rates.
- The report estimated the total cost of the deployments at roughly $1.7 billion.
Official Statements & Responses
- President Trump publicly denounced the analysis on Truth Social, labeling it “another Radical Left SCAM” and threatening legal action against CAP and its backers, including philanthropist George Soros.
Criticism & Opposition
Trump’s criticism centers on the claim that the report misrepresents the effectiveness of his policy. He argues that the National Guard deployments were intended to curb crime and that the study’s conclusions undermine his administration’s achievements.
Verbatim Quotes
- “In America, profound disagreements over public policy are resolved through robust public debate, not through threats or intimidation,” — Neera Tanden, american progress CEO — Neera Tanden, CAP CEO
- “The Dumocrats love it, and are against anything ‘TRUMP,’” — Donald Trump, lawyers for president — Donald Trump, lawyers for president
- “It’s a lawsuit that never should have been allowed to be brought,” — Donald Trump, lawyers for president — Donald Trump, lawyers for president
- “This is the second time that President Trump has issued (a) threat. … There is obviously something behind it that you would think the Omanis would want to pay attention to,” — Marc J. Sievers — Marc J. Sievers, former U.S. ambassador to Oman (included for context on Trump’s broader pattern of threatening legal action)
What’s Next
CAP must decide whether to comply with the Friday deadline or contest the claim in court. If the president proceeds, the lawsuit could become one of the largest defamation actions in recent U.S. history, potentially shaping how think-tanks conduct policy research under political pressure.
