Politics

Trump Files $15 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against the New York Times

Published SEP 16 2025

Story

Above: The New York Times headquarters on 8th Avenue on June 24, 2025, in New York City. Image credit: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

The Facts

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he'd filed a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the newspaper of making false statements about him and his family.
CNBC
FOX News
The lawsuit stems from The New York Times' recent reporting on a sexually suggestive note and drawing given to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein that appeared to have been signed by Trump in 2003.
CNN
New York Post
Trump accused The New York Times of being a "virtual mouthpiece" for the Democratic Party and cited the newspaper's endorsement of Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election as evidence.
Independent
Daily Mail
BBC News
The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Florida, with Trump lawyers alleging "false and defamatory content" about him being carried by the daily. Trump previously sued the paper in 2020 and 2021, but the lawsuits were dismissed.
Guardian
Republic World
Financial Times
Trump referenced his previous successful litigation against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos, as well as Paramount over its 60 Minutes interview, which resulted in $15 million and $16 million settlements respectively.
CNN
Republic World
Financial Times
Trump also filed a separate $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal in July for its article linking him to the Epstein note, which was among documents reviewed by criminal investigators.
Daily Mail
CNBC

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

The New York Times has crossed the line from journalism into partisan activism, functioning as nothing more than a campaign arm for the Democratic Party. Their unprecedented front-page endorsement of Kamala Harris represents the largest illegal campaign contribution in history, violating basic journalistic standards. Decades of false reporting and malicious smears against Trump, his family, and the MAGA movement demand accountability through the courts.

New York Post

Anti-Trump narrative

Trump's lawsuit represents another attempt to weaponize the legal system against legitimate journalism and suppress press freedom through intimidation tactics. The reporting on the Epstein documents follows standard journalistic practices, presenting factual information that criminal investigators reviewed in building cases against Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Media outlets have a constitutional duty to report on matters of public interest involving elected officials.

CNBC