Trump Instituted a $15B Defamation Lawsuit Against the New York Times
In a move that escalates his ongoing battle with media organizations, U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. The lawsuit, which targets four Times reporters—Peter Baker, Russ Buettner, Susanne Craig, and Michael S. Schmidt—alleges that the newspaper published false and damaging information about him.
The lawsuit focuses on a series of articles and a book titled "Lucky Loser" published by The New York Times. Trump claims that the newspaper portrayed him as having squandered his inheritance and misrepresented his business history. He describes The New York Times' endorsement of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 election as "deranged" and part of a broader effort to undermine his campaign.
Trump's legal actions against media organizations are not limited to The New York Times. He has also sued The Wall Street Journal, with the lawsuit involving media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal concerns reports on Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The lawsuits against media organizations are part of a broader strategy by Trump to address perceived bias in media reporting. Trump has taken legal action against ABC News and CBS News' "60 Minutes," and his lawsuits against media organizations are not the first. Trump has filed multiple lawsuits against media organizations he perceives as hostile.
The New York Times has dismissed the lawsuit as meritless. A spokesperson for the newspaper asserted that the lawsuit lacks legitimate legal claims and is an attempt to stifle independent journalism. The spokesperson also criticized Trump's specific criticism of The New York Times' endorsement of Harris, stating it as an attempt to divert attention from the issues at hand.
Notably, the lawsuits against ABC and CBS News were settled out of court. Trump's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, is defending him in the legal dispute against The New York Times. The Wall Street Journal has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
As the legal battles unfold, Trump's actions against media organizations continue to raise questions about freedom of the press and the role of journalism in democratic societies. The outcome of these lawsuits could have significant implications for the future of media reporting and the relationship between the press and political figures.
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