Trump Files $15 Billion Lawsuit Against The New York Times

President Donald Trump has announced a significant legal action, filing a $15 billion (€12.75 billion) defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump accused the newspaper of acting as a “mouthpiece” for the Democratic Party. He specifically referenced the Times’ endorsement of former presidential candidate Kamala Harris for the 2024 election as part of his claims.

The amount Trump seeks in damages notably exceeds the current market capitalisation of The New York Times Co., which stands at approximately $9.65 billion. While he did not provide specific instances of what he deems defamatory coverage, Trump stated that the newspaper has “engaged in a decades-long method of lying” about himself, his family, his business ventures, the America First Movement, and the nation as a whole. Trump revealed that the lawsuit is being filed in Florida.

In response to Trump’s announcement, The New York Times had not issued a comment as of the time of the statement, likely due to the timing outside of regular business hours.

Ongoing Legal Battles

This lawsuit is not Trump’s first legal conflict with media organizations since he returned to the presidency. In July 2023, he reached a settlement with Paramount Global regarding allegations of election interference by their CBS news network. This case related to two different versions of a 60 Minutes interview featuring then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which aired in October.

In December 2023, Trump also settled with Walt Disney Co.‘s ABC network. In this case, ABC agreed to provide $15 million to Trump’s future presidential foundation or museum. This lawsuit stemmed from claims that an ABC anchor had defamed Trump by characterising a past court ruling against him.

Trump referenced these previous settlements in his latest post, asserting that they demonstrate a “long-term intent and pattern of abuse, which is both unacceptable and illegal.” He expressed frustration over what he perceives as The New York Times’ unchecked ability to “lie, smear, and defame” him, declaring, “that stops, NOW!”

The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for both Trump and The New York Times as the legal battle unfolds. As the case progresses, its potential impact on media practices and political discourse continues to be a topic of keen interest.