Trump Announces $15 Billion Legal Action Against The New York Times
In a new legal battle, former U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times Company, seeking $15 billion in damages. The lawsuit, which accuses the media giant of a "decades long method of lying" about Trump and his associates, names The New York Times, four reporters, and publisher Penguin Random House as defendants.
The filing describes The New York Times' editorial approach as "one of industrial-scale defamation and libel against political opponents." The lawsuit cites news and opinion articles, as well as a 2024 book written by two of its reporters, as evidence of this alleged bias.
The journalists named in the lawsuit are two reporters from The New York Times who authored a book about Trump, but their names are not specified in the available information. The lawsuit also alleges that The New York Times served as a "mouthpiece" for the Democrats.
This is not the first time Trump has taken legal action against the media over unfavorable coverage. He has a history of suing the media, including a recent lawsuit against Dow Jones & Co., News Corp., and Rupert Murdoch. Trump has also urged the Supreme Court to reconsider the 1964 Supreme Court case New York Times v. Sullivan, which sets a higher burden for public figures to prove libel.
Trump's legal battles have not always been successful. In 2009, he lost a libel lawsuit against Timothy O'Brien, an editor at The New York Times who published a book questioning Trump's billionaire status. More recently, a Manhattan judge dismissed a suit against journalist Bob Woodward and a publishing house.
The amount Trump is seeking exceeds the market capitalization of The New York Times Co. It remains to be seen how this latest lawsuit will unfold. The New York Times has responded to the lawsuit, stating that it "has no merit." Penguin Random House, one of the defendants, hasn't responded to a request for comment regarding the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also criticizes The New York Times' endorsement of former presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Trump reached a settlement with Paramount Global in July over a lawsuit tied to a CBS news network interview with Vice President Harris.
This case adds to Trump's running battles with the press, further escalating the tension between the former president and the media. As the legal proceedings unfold, both parties will be closely watched by the public and the political sphere.
