US President Donald Trump announced that he will sue the New York Times for 15 billion dollars over what he calls defamation and libel.
Trump declared on his platform Truth Social that the newspaper has lied and smeared him for too long and that this will now stop.
Attack on endorsement of Kamala Harris
The president criticised the Times for endorsing Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. He claimed the paper had become a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party.
Trump revealed that his lawsuit will be filed in Florida, a Republican stronghold. The New York Times has not yet responded to his announcement.
Displeasure with critical media
Trump has often voiced anger at media outlets he considers hostile to his presidency. Late on Monday, he highlighted the Times’ endorsement of his rival. He stressed that Harris’ endorsement appeared on the front page, calling it unprecedented.
In the same post, he accused media outlets and television programs of smearing him with manipulated documents and images.
Settlements with major networks
Trump recently forced multimillion-dollar settlements from ABC News and CBS News, both agreeing to payouts after lawsuits.
He has also filed a case against the Wall Street Journal over its reporting on the Epstein scandal.
History of lawsuits against the Times
This is not Trump’s first attempt to sue the New York Times. In 2023, a judge dismissed a lawsuit he filed as former president. The court ruled that the claims failed under constitutional law.
That 100 million dollar lawsuit, filed in 2021, accused the paper and Trump’s niece Mary Trump of plotting to obtain his tax records. It related to a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into his financial affairs.
Previous defamation case dismissed
Trump also failed in another defamation case in 2023. He tried to sue a major broadcaster for comparing him to Adolf Hitler. A federal judge rejected the 475 million dollar claim.
This current lawsuit marks another chapter in Trump’s ongoing battles with the press.
