President alleges decades-long smear campaign; Times and publisher call case “meritless”
Trump Sues The New York Times for $15 Billion Over Defamation Claims/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump has filed a sweeping $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and four of its journalists, accusing the paper of deliberately publishing falsehoods. The Times responded by calling the suit baseless and an attempt to silence independent reporting.
Quick Look
- The Lawsuit: Filed Monday in Florida federal court
- Allegations: Times engaged in “decades-long” pattern of defaming Trump
- Focus: Several articles and a book published before the 2024 election
- Trump’s Claim: Times acted with “reckless disregard for truth”
- Response: Times and Penguin Random House reject lawsuit as meritless
- Context: Part of Trump’s broader legal battle against media outlets
Trump Sues The New York Times for $15 Billion Over Defamation Claims
The Filing
According to court documents, Trump’s legal team argues that The New York Times engaged in intentional and malicious defamation, pointing to:
- A series of articles by Times reporters in the run-up to the 2024 election
- A book published by Penguin Random House authored by Times journalists
The lawsuit claims that these works were part of a “pattern of reckless disregard for the truth,” amounting to an orchestrated campaign to damage Trump’s reputation.
Trump’s Statement
Announcing the lawsuit on Truth Social, Trump accused the Times of being a political tool:
“The New York Times has become a virtual mouthpiece for the Radical Left Democrat Party,” he wrote, alleging that the paper has repeatedly lied about him to influence public opinion.
The Times Responds
The Times immediately rejected the lawsuit. Spokesman Charles Stadtlander said:
“This lawsuit lacks any legitimate legal claims and instead is an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting. The New York Times will not be deterred by intimidation tactics.”
Penguin Random House, the publisher of the book referenced in the case, echoed that sentiment, dismissing Trump’s filing as a “meritless lawsuit.”
Legal Context
Trump, who has frequently clashed with mainstream media outlets, has made defamation lawsuits a key part of his post-presidential strategy.
- In July 2025, he filed a $10 billion defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over coverage of his ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
- His legal team argues that decades of negative coverage amount to systemic bias and reputational harm.
Legal experts note that defamation claims involving public figures face a high bar: plaintiffs must prove not just falsity, but also “actual malice” — meaning the publisher knowingly spread false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
Why It Matters
This lawsuit underscores three broader dynamics:
- Escalating Trump-Media Conflict
- Press Freedom at Stake
- Media advocates warn that repeated lawsuits, even if unsuccessful, could have a chilling effect on investigative journalism.
- Election Fallout
- The timing of the allegations — focused on 2024 election coverage — ties Trump’s claims directly to his ongoing narrative about political bias in media.
What’s Next
The lawsuit will proceed in U.S. District Court in Florida, though legal analysts predict a tough road for Trump given long-standing protections for the press under U.S. law.
For now, the case adds to a growing list of Trump’s high-profile legal battles, with billions of dollars in claims targeting major American media institutions.
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