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U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he has filed a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the newspaper of lying about him and acting as a political weapon for Democrats.
“Today, I have the great honor of bringing a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the history of our country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, the social media platform he owns.
He called the Times a “mouthpiece” for the Democratic Party and described its endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as “the single largest illegal campaign contribution, EVER,” noting the endorsement appeared prominently on the paper’s front page.
Trump accused the outlet of engaging in a “decadeslong method of lying” about him and his allies. “The New York Times has been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long, and that stops, NOW!” he wrote, saying the suit was filed in Florida. He offered no evidence for his claims.
Trump’s lawsuit comes days after the New York Times reported he had threatened legal action over stories about a lewd birthday note linked to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The president has denied writing the note.
The lawsuit also marks the latest step in Trump’s intensifying campaign against traditional media since returning to the White House. He has restricted access for critical journalists, frequently attacked news outlets, and filed multimillion-dollar suits.
In July, Trump sued media magnate Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal for at least $10 billion over reporting on his relationship with Epstein. That same month, Paramount settled a lawsuit with Trump for $16 million over 60 Minutes coverage of the 2024 election.
Trump had accused the network of deceptively editing an interview with Harris to her advantage.
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