President Donald Trump has launched a major legal battle against The New York Times, several of its journalists, and Penguin Random House, demanding at least $15 billion in damages for alleged defamation and libel.
The case, filed in a Florida federal court, argues that the media outlets caused severe harm to his professional and personal standing.
The complaint points to multiple articles from The New York Times, including an opinion piece released before the 2024 election that questioned Trump’s suitability for the presidency.
It also targets a 2024 book from Penguin called “Lucky Loser,” which examines how Trump reportedly mishandled his inheritance and built a facade of achievement.
According to the lawsuit, the defendants deliberately spread false and damaging information about Trump, fully aware of the inaccuracies. Trump’s legal team claims this has led to substantial financial losses, including a drop in the value of his brand and future earnings potential.
One specific example highlighted is the impact on Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), where stock prices have fallen sharply amid the controversy.
Recent market challenges for TMTG have been linked to the expiration of share lock-up restrictions following its public listing earlier this year.
This action follows Trump’s recent warnings of legal action against The New York Times over coverage involving a purported inappropriate message and illustration connected to Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump has maintained that he severed ties with Epstein long before the financier’s scandals emerged in 2006. Epstein took his own life in custody in 2019.
Trump announced the lawsuit on his Truth Social platform, stating it was an honor to pursue $15 billion in compensation.
He accused the newspaper of fabricating stories about him, his relatives, his enterprises, and key conservative initiatives like America First and MAGA.
Since returning to office, Trump has ramped up efforts against news organizations. Earlier suits include one against The Wall Street Journal and its parent company for $10 billion related to Epstein reporting, and a settled dispute with Paramount over edited footage from a “60 Minutes” segment featuring Kamala Harris.
The New York Times and Penguin have not yet commented on the matter. The case was submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
