Trump Says He Will Sue New York Times for $15 Billion

In a dramatic move that marks a new escalation in his long-running conflict with major media outlets, President Donald Trump has announced a massive $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. The lawsuit, filed in a Florida federal court, accuses the newspaper of being a "mouthpiece" for the Democratic Party and of engaging in a decades-long campaign of lies and "election interference" against him.
The legal action targets not just the New York Times Company but also several of its journalists and the publishing house behind a book they authored. The core of the complaint revolves around coverage that Trump claims was "carefully crafted with actual malice" to damage his reputation and sabotage his political campaigns. Among the specific content cited in the lawsuit are a book titled Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father's Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success, written by Times reporters Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner, as well as several articles published in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. Trump's filing also references the paper's decision to endorse his opponent, which he characterized as "the single largest illegal Campaign contribution, EVER."
This lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal battles Trump has initiated against media organizations. He has previously sued other major outlets, including ABC and CBS, over their reporting. In some of those cases, settlements were reached, which Trump has hailed as victories and proof of what he calls widespread misconduct in mainstream media. These legal challenges, which have a history of being dismissed by courts as protected speech, are seen by many as a broader strategy to intimidate and silence journalists who report critically on him.
In a statement responding to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for The New York Times said the legal action "lacks any legitimate legal claims and instead is an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting." The newspaper's statement emphasized that it "will not be deterred by intimidation tactics" and 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 sheer size of the damages being sought—$15 billion—is a staggering figure, far exceeding typical defamation claims and underscoring the high-stakes nature of the case.
Legal experts have noted the significant hurdle Trump's legal team must overcome in this case. To win a defamation lawsuit against a media outlet as a public figure, the plaintiff must not only prove that the published information was false but also that it was published with "actual malice"—meaning the reporters knew the information was false or acted with a reckless disregard for the truth. This is a very high legal standard established by the Supreme Court to protect a free press. While Trump has been successful in reaching settlements in other cases, these outcomes often avoid the more rigorous judicial scrutiny of a full trial, which would require him to prove actual malice.
As the lawsuit proceeds, it will be closely watched not only for its outcome but also for its broader implications on the relationship between the presidency and the press. The case brings to a head the long-simmering tensions between a president who views critical reporting as a personal and political attack and a media establishment that defends its right to hold power accountable. The lawsuit is set to be another major chapter in the ongoing legal and political battles that have defined this era of American politics.
Source@BBC