WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has sued the New York Times, four of its journalists, and publisher Penguin Random House for $15 billion, claiming defamation and citing reputational damage, according to a Florida court filing.
Trump has previously brought lawsuits against other media organisations, including the Wall Street Journal and CBS parent company Paramount, alleging “false or misleading coverage” and seeking billions of dollars in damages.
Monday’s suit cites several New York Times articles, including an editorial before the 2024 presidential election that said he was ineligible for office, as well as a 2024 book published by Penguin titled Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success.
“Defendants maliciously published the book and the articles knowing that these publications were filled with distortions and fabrications,” the filing states.
Reuters wins Pulitzer for fentanyl investigation; New York Times takes four prizes
Earlier this year, Trump sued the Wall Street Journal and its owners, including Rupert Murdoch, seeking at least $10 billion in damages over a report linking his name to a 2003 birthday greeting for Jeffrey Epstein that included a sexually suggestive drawing. In July, Paramount agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by Trump alleging that the CBS programme 60 Minutes deceptively edited an interview with then–vice president Kamala Harris.
Trump’s lawyers argued that the New York Times harmed his business and personal reputation, causing economic damage to his brand value and financial prospects. They cited a sharp decline in the stock of Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) as an example of the alleged harm.
OpenAI says New York Times ‘hacked’ ChatGPT to build copyright lawsuit
A spokesperson for the New York Times dismissed the lawsuit, saying: “This lawsuit has no merit. It lacks any legitimate legal claims and instead is an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting.”
The spokesperson added: “The New York Times will not be deterred by intimidation tactics. We will continue to pursue the facts without fear or favour and stand up for journalists’ First Amendment right to ask questions on behalf of the American people.”
Penguin Random House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In the US, public figures must demonstrate “actual malice” to win a libel case — meaning the statement was made knowing it was false or with reckless disregard for the truth. This standard was set by the Supreme Court in its 1964 New York Times v. Sullivan ruling, which Trump has often criticised as overly protective of the media.
The new filing follows Trump’s threats last week to sue the Times over reporting related to a note and drawing given to Epstein. The financier and convicted sex offender died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019.
“Today, I have the great honor of bringing a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the New York Times,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, accusing the paper of lying about him, his family, his businesses, and Republican-led movements including America First and Make America Great Again (MAGA).