‘Alarming but not unexpected’: NYT lawsuit is Trump tactic to undermine media

Intimidation strategy said to be part of broader campaign to quash and bypass independent and critical publications

As newsrooms learned that President Trump had filed another multibillion lawsuit against a major outlet to have provoked his scorn - this time his home town paper the New York Times - media executives again puzzled over his long-term aims in repeatedly deploying the law.

Different theories abound over the strategy, from creating a chilling effect on the media to feeding an anti-mainstream media sentiment among his most vigorous supporters. One firm conclusion, however, is that the tactic is here to stay.