Key facts
- President Donald Trump has filed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times.
- The lawsuit names four Times journalists and alleges they published false narratives about Trump's business and political career.
- Trump claims the articles and book undermined his reputation and presidential campaign.
- The New York Times stated the lawsuit is meritless and an attempt to deter independent reporting.
President Donald Trump has filed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the newspaper and four of its journalists of publishing false narratives that disparaged his reputation as a businessman and undermined his 2024 presidential campaign. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Florida, specifically targets a book and articles focusing on Trump's finances and his early career.
Trump alleged in the suit that the Times "maliciously peddled the fact-free narrative" that television producer Mark Burnett turned Trump into a celebrity, despite Trump already being a "mega-celebrity" and business success. The suit also challenges claims made about Trump's early business dealings and his father, Fred Trump. Additionally, it cites articles by Peter Baker and Michael S. Schmidt, including one quoting Trump's former Chief of Staff John Kelly.
The New York Times has called the lawsuit "meritless" and an attempt to discourage independent reporting, with spokesman Charlie Stadtlander stating, "The New York Times will not be deterred by intimidation tactics."
This legal action follows previous defamation lawsuits filed by Trump against ABC News and CBS News' "60 Minutes," which were settled out of court, and a lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal. Trump has frequently criticized the Times, calling it "one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the nation’s history" and a mouthpiece for Democrats.