By Tumwesigye Anslem
In a bold and fiery announcement on Truth Social, President Donald J. Trump declared today that he is filing a staggering $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, branding the storied newspaper as one of the “worst and most degenerate” in American history. The suit, filed in federal court in Florida, accuses the Times and four of its prominent journalists of a decades-long campaign of lies, smears, and fabrications aimed at undermining Trump, his family, his business empire, the America First movement, and MAGA supporters across the nation.
“I have the Great Honor of bringing a $15 Billion Dollar Defamation and Libel Lawsuit against The New York Times,” Trump wrote in his signature all-caps style, emphasizing the paper’s alleged role as a “virtual ‘mouthpiece’ for the Radical Left Democrat Party.” He specifically highlighted the Times’ endorsement of Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election, which appeared “dead center on the front page”—an unprecedented move, according to Trump, that he views as the “single largest illegal Campaign contribution, EVER.”
The lawsuit names The New York Times Company, veteran investigative reporters Susanne Craig, Russ Buettner, and Michael S. Schmidt, as well as White House correspondent Peter Baker. It also targets Penguin Random House, the publisher of the 2024 book *Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success* by Craig and Buettner. Trump claims the book and related articles contain “repugnant distortions and fabrications” that have inflicted billions in reputational damage to his “unique brand” and business interests, including his media company’s stock value.
“This once respected ‘rag’ has engaged in a decades-long method of lying about your Favorite President (ME!), my family, business, the America First Movement, MAGA, and our Nation as a whole,” Trump continued in his post. He positioned the action as a proud stand to hold the media accountable, drawing parallels to his recent successes against other outlets. “We are doing with the Fake News Networks such as our successful litigation against George Slopadopoulos/ABC/Disney, and 60 Minutes/CBS/Paramount, who knew that they were falsely ‘smearing’ me through a highly sophisticated system of document and visual alteration… and thus, settled for record amounts.”
Trump’s legal salvo comes amid a flurry of similar actions during his second term. Just last month, he secured a $16 million settlement from Paramount (parent of CBS News) over edited footage on *60 Minutes*, and ABC News settled a related defamation claim. In July, he filed a $10 billion suit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over reporting on his ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Last week, Trump threatened to sue the Times specifically for an article alleging he authored a sexually suggestive note and drawing to Epstein in 2003—a claim the White House has dismissed as a “fabrication.”
The Times, in a statement to reporters, vowed to vigorously defend itself, calling the suit “frivolous” and an attack on press freedom. “We stand by our reporting, which is based on exhaustive investigations and public records,” a spokesperson said. First Amendment experts echoed this sentiment, noting that public figures like Trump face a high bar to prove defamation under the landmark *New York Times v. Sullivan* ruling from 1964—the very case that bears the paper’s name. Proving “actual malice”—knowledge of falsehood or reckless disregard for the truth—is essential, and endorsements or opinion pieces are generally protected speech.
Critics, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, warned that such lawsuits could have a chilling effect on journalism, entangling media outlets in costly legal battles even if they ultimately prevail. The $15 billion demand alone exceeds the entire market capitalization of The New York Times Company, underscoring the suit’s audacious scale.
Trump concluded his announcement with his trademark rallying cry: “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” For supporters, this latest move exemplifies his commitment to draining the swamp of “fake news.” As the case unfolds in Florida’s federal courts, it promises to be a high-stakes clash between the 45th and 47th president and one of America’s most influential media institutions.
