US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he has filed a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the paper of acting as a “mouthpiece” for the Democratic Party. The suit, Trump said, has been lodged in Florida and singles out the Times’ endorsement of Kamala Harris as an example of alleged bias. He added that the newspaper had “been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long.”
What Trump said?
In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump described the Times as “one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the history of our country,” and characterised its coverage as part of what he calls a sustained campaign to damage his reputation, his family and the America First movement. He framed the filing as an attempt to hold media organisations accountable, comparing it to previous litigation he cited against broadcasters and news programmes, which he says settled claims of false reporting.
Legal experts say defamation suits brought by public figures face high evidentiary standards, requiring proof that false statements were published with actual malice. The New York Times has previously defended its reporting as protected under the First Amendment and may push back on jurisdiction if the case proceeds in Florida.
Trump’s Truth Social post
Trump’s Truth Social post reads, Today, I have the Great Honor of bringing a $15 Billion Dollar Defamation and Libel Lawsuit against The New York Times, one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the History of our Country, becoming a virtual “mouthpiece” for the Radical Left Democrat Party. I view it as the single largest illegal Campaign contribution, EVER. Their Endorsement of Kamala Harris was actually put dead center on the front page of The New York Times, something heretofore UNHEARD OF! The “Times” has engaged in a decades long method of lying about your Favorite President (ME!), my family, business, the America First Movement, MAGA, and our Nation as a whole. I am PROUD to hold this once respected “rag” responsible, as we are doing with the Fake News Networks such as our successful litigation against George Slopadopoulos/ABC/Disney, and 60 Minutes/CBS/Paramount, who knew that they were falsely “smearing” me through a highly sophisticated system of document and visual alteration, which was, in effect, a malicious form of defamation, and thus, settled for record amounts. They practiced this longterm INTENT and pattern of abuse, which is both unacceptable and illegal. The New York Times has been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long, and that stops, NOW! The suit is being brought in the Great State of Florida. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”