Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to Donald Trump’s campaign and a key figure in the president-elect’s inner circle, is pushing back against the anti-Trump PAC The Lincoln Project, accusing the organization of defamation. The dispute centers on incendiary ads targeting both LaCivita and Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff pick, which have sparked controversy for their aggressive tone and allegations.
One ad, titled “Sucker,” alleged that LaCivita profited significantly from the Trump campaign. “Donald, you are such a sucker,” the ad proclaimed. “And you don’t even know it. Chris LaCivita? Twenty-two million? Are you kidding?”
Another ad, titled “Failures,” criticized LaCivita and Wiles for their alleged strategic missteps during Trump’s campaign. The ad suggested the pair had advised Trump to invest heavily in attacking President Joe Biden, claiming, “If Susie and Chris got it so wrong, what else have they screwed up?”
LaCivita has now responded with legal action. According to a report by Politico, his attorneys have sent a cease-and-desist letter to The Lincoln Project and accused the group of publishing defamatory claims. In particular, the letter focuses on the “Sucker” video, in which The Lincoln Project stated: “If Trump’s own campaign manager, Chris LaCivita, can pull a fast one on Trump, think what America’s enemies can do to him. We can’t let this patsy be President again.”
LaCivita’s legal team argued that these claims were false and damaging.
“The allegations in the ‘Sucker’ video created by The Lincoln Project, and published on multiple online platforms controlled by the Lincoln Project, as well as the related posts … center around the false and defamatory claim that Mr. LaCivita received compensation in the amount of $22 million from Donald Trump and the Trump Campaign,” the letter stated. “The allegations in the video relating to Mr. LaCivita are categorically false and belied by public campaign finance records.”
The Republican National Committee has also weighed in, accusing The Lincoln Project of defamation on behalf of LaCivita. This legal battle adds to ongoing tensions between Trump’s camp and The Lincoln Project, which has been relentless in its criticism of the former president and his allies. As both sides dig in, the dispute underscores the divisive and high-stakes nature of modern political advertising and advocacy.