Trump Ordered to Pay Over $800,000 After Losing Steele Dossier Lawsuit

Donald Trump just took a big legal hit — and it’s going to cost him. A UK court has ordered the former president to pay more than $800,000 in legal fees after he lost a lawsuit tied to the infamous Steele dossier.

The case dates back to Trump’s long-running battle over that dossier, a collection of explosive — and largely unverified — claims about his ties to Russia. Compiled in 2016 by former British spy Christopher Steele, the document accused Trump of questionable behavior in Moscow and suggested the Russian government had compromising information on him.

Though the contents of the dossier have never been fully proven, they kicked off years of controversy, headlines, and investigations.

Trump Sued the Firm Behind the Dossier

In 2022, Trump filed a lawsuit in the United Kingdom against Steele’s company, Orbis Business Intelligence. He claimed the firm had harmed his reputation by including false and damaging details in the dossier. He also argued that the report violated UK data protection laws.

Trump described the claims in the dossier as “scandalous and false,” and his legal team demanded a public apology and compensation. But from the start, legal experts weren’t sure the case had much of a chance.

The Judge Tossed the Case

They were right. In early 2024, a UK judge threw out the lawsuit, saying it was “bound to fail.” One of the key reasons? Trump had waited too long to file it.

The judge didn’t even get into whether the dossier was true or false. Instead, the decision came down to timing and procedure. And with that, the case was over — but the financial consequences were just beginning.

Now, He’s Stuck With the Legal Bill

After the lawsuit was dismissed, the court ordered Trump to pay Orbis about $360,000 to cover its legal fees. But he didn’t pay.

Because of that, Trump’s legal team was banned from attending the next hearing to discuss the full cost. The court went ahead anyway and did the math — and now, the price tag has more than doubled.

As of April 3, 2025, Trump owes £626,059 — about $821,000 — to Orbis. And the longer he waits to pay, the more it’ll cost him. The court set an interest rate of 12% a year, meaning thousands more are being added every month.

So What Happens Next?

At the moment, Trump and his lawyers haven’t responded publicly to the ruling. It’s unclear if they’ll try to challenge it or if they’ll just pay up.

But either way, this is a stinging defeat. What started as an attempt to clear his name has ended with a court telling him to pay the other side’s legal bill — and a big one at that.

A Dossier That Just Won’t Go Away

The Steele dossier first made headlines in 2017, just before Trump was sworn in as president. It was leaked to the public, investigated by the FBI, and endlessly debated on cable news. Critics called it a political hit job; supporters said it raised legitimate concerns.

Even now, nearly a decade later, it’s still shaping legal and political battles. This latest ruling doesn’t speak to the truth of what’s in the dossier — but it does highlight how far-reaching its impact has been.

The Bottom Line

Trump tried to take on the firm behind the Steele dossier in court, but the case collapsed before it ever really got going. Now he’s left with a massive legal bill, and the saga continues to cast a long shadow over his post-presidency years.

Whether he pays quickly or keeps fighting, the clock — and the interest — is ticking.