Former U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a massive $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times, four of its reporters, and publisher Penguin Random House. The Florida court filing accuses them of defamation, libel, and spreading damaging falsehoods that harmed Trump’s personal, political, and business reputation.
Trump Expands Legal Campaign Against Media
This lawsuit is the latest in Trump’s growing battle against media outlets he claims have engaged in malicious reporting. In his second term, he has targeted multiple organizations, including the Wall Street Journal and Paramount, seeking billions of dollars in damages.
The new case highlights several New York Times articles, including a 2024 editorial declaring him unfit for office. It also points to Penguin Random House’s 2024 book “Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success.”
According to Trump’s lawyers, both the book and the articles contained fabricated stories meant to damage his image. They argue these publications caused severe financial harm, citing a steep decline in the stock value of Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG).
Previous Lawsuits and Settlements
Earlier this year, Trump sued the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch’s media empire for $10 billion. That case was based on a report linking his name to a 2003 birthday greeting for Jeffrey Epstein, which included a suggestive sketch.
In July, CBS parent company Paramount settled a lawsuit after Trump accused the network of deceptively editing an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. The settlement reinforced Trump’s stance that media outlets use manipulation to misrepresent him and political allies.
Legal Standards for Public Figures
Winning a defamation lawsuit in the United States is notoriously difficult for public figures. Plaintiffs must prove “actual malice,” meaning the accused knowingly published false information or showed reckless disregard for the truth. This standard was established by the landmark 1964 Supreme Court case New York Times v. Sullivan.
Trump has frequently criticized this ruling, calling it too protective of news organizations. However, recent Supreme Court decisions have refused to revisit the precedent, leaving the bar for proving defamation unchanged.
Trump’s Public Response
Trump announced the lawsuit on his social media platform Truth Social, declaring it a historic step against what he described as media lies. He accused the New York Times of publishing deliberate falsehoods targeting him, his family, his businesses, and Republican-led movements such as America First and Make America Great Again (MAGA).
Ongoing Tensions With the Media
The lawsuit comes shortly after Trump threatened to take action against the New York Times over reports concerning his alleged connection to a suggestive note given to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has repeatedly said he ended ties with Epstein long before the financier’s legal troubles became public.
By pursuing this $15 billion claim, Trump aims to challenge some of the most powerful names in American publishing. His legal team argues the damage extends beyond personal defamation to financial loss, political harm, and long-term consequences for his brand.
