Trump issues warnings to The New York Times regarding alleged unlawful coverage of his CBS legal action
Going After the Media Again: Trump Threatens Legal Action Against The New York Times
In typical fashion, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to issue a warning to The New York Times, accusing the newspaper of "potentially making them liable for tortious interference, including in elections" over a recent report. The President was irked by the paper's assertion that a lawsuit against CBS News by Trump and Paramount is said to be due for mediation, with legal experts dismissing it as baseless and an easy win for CBS.
According to the Times, Tuesday's report revealed that the parties involved were set to begin mediation on Wednesday over Trump's $10 billion lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges "60 Minutes" deceptively edited an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris before the election, while CBS maintains they simply aired different portions of the same answer[1][2].
In response to the Times' report, Trump fumed, asserting that the newspaper's "interjection" could make them liable for electoral interference. He went further, stating that The New York Times should be held accountable for their "likely unlawful behavior."
The Times spokesperson, undeterred, stood firm, stating that the paper "will not be deterred by the administration's intimidation tactics. We will continue to pursue the facts without fear or favor and stand up for journalists' First Amendment right to ask questions on behalf of the American people." The spokesperson also stressed that the President's post was part of a broader pattern of legal threats aimed at curbing independent reporting on the administration[1][2].
In the past, Trump has not shied away from taking on major media outlets. Last December, he sued The Des Moines Register and top pollster J. Ann Selzer over an inaccurate pre-election survey showing Harris leading Trump in Iowa, a state he ultimately won by double digits. claim the inaccurate poll violated consumer fraud protections[1][2]. The Register is currently fighting the lawsuit in court.
Trump also sued ABC News last year, alleging that star anchor George Stephanopoulos defamed him by repeatedly stating a jury found Trump had "raped" E. Jean Carroll after a jury found him civilly liable for "sexual abuse." The network settled the lawsuit, paying $15 million to Trump's "presidential foundation and museum."
[1] Link to the initial New York Times report[2] Link to a summary of Trump's legal actions against news outlets
- The President's warning to The New York Times on Truth Social was about potential liability for tortious interference, including in elections, due to their report on a mediation over a lawsuit involving politics and war-and-conflicts.
- The mediation over Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News was set to begin on Wednesday, according to a report in The New York Times.
- The New York Times' report irked President Trump, leading him to assert that the newspaper's interjection could make them liable for electoral interference.
- The ongoing legal battle between Trump and The New York Times is part of a broader pattern of legal threats aimed at curbing independent reporting on the administration, with the Times spokesperson vowing to stand firm and pursue the facts without fear or favor.
