Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump standing in front of a crowd posing for the camera

“The Court grants Defendants’ motion and dismisses Plaintiff’s complaint for failing sufficiently to plead malice. The Court, however, allows Plaintiff the opportunity to file an amended complaint,” Judge Brown wrote.

The judge rejected CNN’s claim, though, that Mr Nobel’s piece was not actionable to libel because it was a statement of opinion versus a fact.

“His opinion lies on both sides with the Statement as a factual allegation bringing them together,” he wrote. “The context of the Statement (both in the article and in Mr. Noble’s discussion of current events) suggest to readers that the Statement is a statement of fact, not opinion.”

Now Mr Trump’s lawyers have until the end of the month to file an amended complaint if they want to proceed with the lawsuit.