Trump files $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times and Penguin
U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against The New York Times, four of its journalists, and publisher Penguin Random House, seeking at least $15 billion in damages. The case, filed in a Florida court on Monday, accuses the defendants of defamation and libel, citing serious harm to Trump’s reputation and brand value.
The lawsuit references several New York Times articles, including a pre-2024 election editorial that questioned Trump’s fitness for office, along with the 2024 book “Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success” published by Penguin.
According to the filing, the publications were released with “malicious intent,” spreading distortions and falsehoods about Trump. His lawyers argue that the damage has hurt both his personal image and business interests, including a decline in Trump Media and Technology Group’s stock value.
The New York Times and Penguin Random House did not immediately comment on the lawsuit.
The legal action comes just days after Trump threatened to sue the Times over reporting related to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has insisted he severed ties with Epstein long before the financier’s criminal cases came to light.
Trump also posted about the lawsuit on Truth Social, stating he was “honored” to bring a $15 billion defamation case against the Times. He accused the paper of lying about him, his family, and Republican movements such as America First and MAGA.
This is not the first major lawsuit Trump has launched against media outlets. Earlier this year, he sued the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch for $10 billion. In July, CBS parent company Paramount settled a suit over a “60 Minutes” interview that Trump said was deceptively edited.
