Trump Involved in Lawsuit Dismissal, TikTok Deal Announcement, and New H-1B Visa Fee - September 2025

A US federal judge, Judge Steven Merryday, dismissed Donald Trump’s $15bn defamation lawsuit against The New York Times for violating federal rules. Trump has been given 28 days to refile an amended complaint, and his legal team indicated they will do so. Separately, US President Donald Trump announced a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping concerning the future of TikTok’s US operations. The deal reportedly involves the sale of TikTok’s US business to a group of US investors, although Beijing has not confirmed the agreement. Additionally, President Trump signed an executive order adding a new $100,000 fee for applicants to the H-1B visa program for skilled foreign workers, a move aimed at restricting entry.