President Donald Trump is filing a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, claiming its reporting on his family, political movement, and ties to Jeffrey Epstein has damaged his reputation and finances. He said the lawsuit is being filed in Florida’s district court as part of his efforts to challenge media coverage he considers unfavorable.
Trump accused the newspaper of being a “virtual ‘mouthpiece’ for the Radical Left Democrat Party” and claimed it has “freely lied, smeared, and defamed” him for years. In a post on Truth Social, he highlighted the Times’ endorsement of his 2024 election rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, which he described as unprecedented.
The lawsuit targets several NYT articles, including pre-2024 election editorials that questioned Trump’s fitness for office. It was also named Penguin Random House for publishing the 2024 book Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success. Trump’s filing claims the publications knowingly spread “distortions and fabrications” about him, damaging his brand and future financial prospects.
A spokesperson for The New York Times characterized the lawsuit as “an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting” and added that it “lacks any legitimate legal claims.” The newspaper emphasized that it would continue to report freely, defending journalists’ First Amendment rights.
This is not Trump’s first legal action against media outlets. In recent months, he reached multimillion-dollar settlements with ABC News and Paramount’s CBS News over coverage he considered inaccurate. Trump has also filed lawsuits against The Wall Street Journal and the Associated Press, disputing reporting on Epstein and other matters. Federal judges dismissed previous lawsuits against The New York Times and CNN for lacking merit under constitutional law.
Trump’s announcement reflects his intensified scrutiny of traditional media since returning to the White House, as he continues to challenge reporting he perceives as biased or damaging to his public image.
