President Donald Trump has announced a $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times, accusing the newspaper of defamation and libel. On Tuesday, September 16th, Trump said the case would be filed in Florida and claimed the newspaper had long defamed him, his family, and his political movement. He cited reputational harm from its reporting on his ties to financier Jeffrey Epstein and its endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
Trump wrote on Truth Social, “The New York Times has been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long, and that stops, NOW!” He accused the paper of serving as a “mouthpiece for the Radical Left Democrat Party.” Trump further alleged that its reporting, including an editorial declaring him unfit for office, damaged his personal reputation and financial prospects. He said the endorsement of Harris was “heretofore UNHEARD OF” for front-page placement.
The suit also names Penguin Random House, citing a 2024 book titled Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success. Trump’s lawyers argued the publishers “maliciously published the Book and the Articles knowing that these publications were filled with repugnant distortions and fabrications.” They claim the coverage harmed Trump’s brand value and future economic opportunities. Penguin Random House has not responded publicly.
The New York Times rejected the lawsuit, saying, “This lawsuit has no merit. It lacks any legitimate legal claims and instead is an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting.” The paper pledged to continue its journalism “without fear or favor” and emphasized its defense of press freedoms under the First Amendment. Trump’s legal team, however, insists the case will prove the Times knowingly spread falsehoods.
Trump has intensified legal battles against the media in recent months. Paramount settled for $16 million over a CBS News interview he claimed favored Kamala Harris. ABC News paid $15 million to settle remarks made on-air about a sexual abuse case. He has also sued the Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over reporting linked to Epstein.
This is not Trump’s first attempt to sue the New York Times. In 2021, he filed a $100 million case over its Pulitzer Prize-winning tax reporting, which was dismissed in 2023. He also lost a $475 million defamation suit against CNN that year.
