Correct; however, in the internet age it is all too easy to verify information if you are remotely neutral. It would be nearly impossible to be ignorant of facts that contradict a story.
Generally, these news publishers are more interested in entertainment than truth telling. They get paid for monetizing attention, not telling the truth. They can’t outright lie, but they are certainly not bound by facts.
As the old saying goes, “Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story”. A newsroom mantra if there ever was one.
All that to say defamation suits are always a risk. The bar is high, but most “victims” are not rich enough to fight them. Those that are get settlements.
Trump's legal history long before politics has been to be as aggressive as possible, threaten everyone involved in the process, opposing legal council, judges and so on with his own false claims and so on.
In one lawsuit Trump's lawyers claimed opposing lawyers should be removed from a lawsuit because they're sexually attracted to Trump's lawyers.
Ol' minihands sues a _lot_ of people, but rarely successfully. It would be existential if it was a serious threat with a real case that would hold together, but given the history one could be forgiven for assuming it's just the usual posturing.
We're a lesser country for it.