President Donald Trump has taken legal action against The Des Moines Register and its lead pollster, J. Ann Selzer, over a poll released just before the 2024 election that claimed Vice President Kamala Harris held a significant lead over Trump in Iowa. The poll, which showed Harris leading by 3 percentage points, proved to be wildly inaccurate as Trump ultimately won the state by a commanding 14 percentage points, solidifying his victory and return to the White House.
Trump’s lawsuit, filed in Polk County, Iowa, accuses both the newspaper and Selzer’s polling company of violating the state’s consumer fraud laws by intentionally misrepresenting polling data. The complaint argues that the poll’s glaring inaccuracy was not a simple mistake, but a deliberate attempt to deceive voters. “Selzer’s polling failure was not an accident—it was intentional,” the lawsuit claims.
The former president is seeking unspecified damages and is also requesting that the court block Selzer and her polling firm from releasing any future “deceptive” polls. Trump’s legal team is demanding full disclosure of the data and methodology used in the flawed survey, arguing that such practices undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
The lawsuit goes further to condemn what Trump describes as a broader trend of left-wing pollsters deliberately manipulating public opinion through inaccurate surveys that fail to adhere to established polling standards. “For too long, biased pollsters have tried to influence election results through flawed polls with questionable methodology,” the complaint states. “While Selzer isn’t the only one, her influence as a prominent pollster gave her the power to mislead voters on a massive scale.”
Trump’s legal battles with the media have escalated in recent months. In addition to this lawsuit, he has filed several defamation cases, including one against ABC News, CBS, and journalist Bob Woodward. At a press conference earlier this week, Trump previewed the lawsuit, calling the Iowa poll an example of “fraud” and “election interference.”
While Selzer declined to comment on the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Gannett, the parent company of The Des Moines Register, defended the poll. “We have acknowledged the discrepancy between the poll and the election result,” said Lark-Marie Anton. “However, we stand by our reporting and believe this lawsuit is without merit.”
Trump’s legal action highlights the ongoing battle over the role of media and polling in shaping public perception during elections. His team believes that such polling inaccuracies not only mislead voters but also contribute to a broader effort to influence the election outcome, particularly in swing states like Iowa. As the case moves forward, it could have significant implications for how polling data is handled and reported in future elections.