Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday, September 15, 2025, that he is filing a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times. The lawsuit, which will be filed in Florida, follows the newspaper’s recent reporting on Trump’s alleged ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, including coverage of a sexually suggestive note and drawing reportedly linked to the case.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump declared, “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.” He further accused the newspaper of conducting a multi-decade “campaign of lies” against him, his family, and his businesses, and claimed the Times had targeted Republican-led ideologies such as the America First Movement and Make America Great Again (MAGA).
This legal action marks the latest in a series of confrontations between Trump and mainstream media outlets. Earlier this year, he settled a defamation lawsuit against ABC News for $15 million after the network’s anchor, George Stephanopoulos, made false statements about Trump’s liability in a sexual abuse case involving writer E. Jean Carroll. The settlement included a public apology and a charitable donation to Trump’s presidential library.
The New York Times has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit. As of now, the newspaper has not issued a public statement or provided any information about its legal strategy in response to Trump’s allegations.
Legal experts anticipate that this lawsuit could reignite debates over the balance between press freedom and protections against defamation, particularly concerning public figures. The outcome may have significant implications for media practices and legal standards in defamation cases involving high-profile individuals.
As the legal proceedings unfold, both supporters and critics of Trump are closely monitoring the developments, which are expected to draw national attention and potentially influence future media coverage of political figures.
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