Trump Announces Multi-Billion Dollar Legal Action against The New York Times
In a significant legal move, former U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times Company, seeking a staggering $15 billion in damages. The case, Trump v. New York Times Company, 8:25-cv-02487, is currently being heard in the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida (Tampa).
The lawsuit alleges that The New York Times has engaged in a decades-long pattern of intentional and malicious defamation, particularly in its coverage of Trump. It criticizes the newspaper's endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 election and accuses The New York Times of serving as a 'mouthpiece' for the Democrats.
The filing describes The New York Times' editorial approach as 'one of industrial-scale defamation and libel against political opponents.' It cites numerous news and opinion articles, as well as a 2024 book written by two of its reporters, Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner.
In response, The New York Times has issued a statement, asserting that the lawsuit 'has no merit.' Penguin Random House, the book's publisher, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump's history of suing the media over unfavorable coverage is well-documented. He has previously sued Dow Jones & Co., News Corp. and Rupert Murdoch for libel, and faced setbacks in his lawsuits against journalist Bob Woodward and a publishing house over the release of interview recordings from his first term in office.
In 2009, Trump lost a bid for $5 billion in libel damages from Timothy O'Brien, who was an editor at The New York Times at the time. O'Brien now oversees opinion columns for Bloomberg News.
Notably, the lawsuit also references the $15 million settlement between ABC and Trump's future presidential foundation or museum to resolve a separate defamation claim. Trump referenced this settlement in his latest post, claiming 'long-term intent and pattern of abuse, which is both unacceptable and illegal.'
In May, The Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger stated that the paper will cover the Trump administration 'fully and fairly, regardless of what attacks it sends our way.' After Trump criticized Times reporters in March, the newspaper responded by stating that Trump's approach has 'never caused us to back down from our mission of holding powerful people to account, regardless of which party is in office.'
This latest lawsuit is likely to add another chapter to the ongoing saga of Trump's legal battles with the media.
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