Trump Files Another Multimillion Dollar Defamation Suit Against The New York Times

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again initiated a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. This move follows the dismissal of a previous version by a federal judge due to its excessive length. The complaint was filed Thursday at the Middle District Court of Florida in Tampa and names the newspaper, three of its journalists, and publisher Penguin Random House as defendants. Trump alleges they published misleading claims about his wealth and business dealings, as reported by Fox News.

Trump's legal team asserts that The New York Times engaged in defamation through two articles released in 2024 and the book "Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success," authored by reporters Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner. These journalists, along with Peter Baker and the publisher, are cited in the lawsuit. Michael S. Schmidt, initially a defendant in the original filing, has been omitted from this revised 40-page document after the initial 85-page complaint was rejected.

"President Trump is holding the fake news media accountable with this strong lawsuit against The New York Times, its reporters, and Penguin Random House," a spokesperson for Trump's legal team told Fox News Digital. Trump seeks $15 billion in damages and punitive compensation, arguing the publications harmed his reputation and were part of what he describes as a systematic defamation campaign during and post-presidency.

A representative from The New York Times dismissed the lawsuit as "baseless and without merit." "Nothing has changed today. This is yet another attempt to intimidate the independent press and attract media attention. The Times will not be intimidated," the spokesperson stated. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Penguin Random House declared that "this second lawsuit remains equally baseless" and reiterated the publisher's support for the authors and "the fundamental principles of the First Amendment."

This lawsuit adds to a series of legal actions Trump has taken against major U.S. media outlets, including ABC News, CBS News, and The Wall Street Journal, over alleged defamation and news manipulation. The former president has already secured multimillion-dollar settlements with some of these organizations. Last December, ABC News paid $15 million and issued a public apology for incorrectly stating Trump was "found guilty of rape" instead of "sexual abuse," also covering an additional $1 million in legal costs. In July, Paramount Global, CBS's parent company, agreed to a payment of up to $30 million to resolve a lawsuit from Trump over "election interference" linked to a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

In this latest legal maneuver, Trump claims that The Times' reporting on his role as a star of The Apprentice and alleged tax irregularities constitutes malicious defamation aimed at damaging his public and political image. Trump maintains that The New York Times has pursued a "biased and politicized" coverage approach since before his presidency, asserting that the "corrupt media must be held accountable under the law."

The case is set to be reviewed in the upcoming weeks by the Tampa federal court. Legal experts anticipate a lengthy process, with potential appeals if the court chooses to dismiss the suit again. Meanwhile, the case underscores Trump's strategy of portraying himself as a victim of media bias, furthering his narrative of direct confrontation with traditional media—a consistent theme in his political discourse since 2016.

This week, Trump criticized Time magazine for publishing what he considered "the worst photo" of himself "ever."