On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit in a Florida court seeking at least $15 billion in damages from The New York Times, four of its reporters, and publisher Penguin Random House. The lawsuit alleges defamation and libel, claiming significant damage to his reputation.
Trump’s suit specifically targets several articles published by The New York Times, including a pre-2024 presidential election editorial that questioned his fitness for office. It also cites a 2024 book published by Penguin titled, “Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success.”
According to the court filing, the defendants “maliciously published the Book and the Articles knowing that these publications were filled with repugnant distortions and fabrications about President Trump.” His lawyers argue that the publications have harmed his personal and business reputation, causing “massive economic damage” to his brand value and future financial prospects. As an example of this damage, the lawsuit points to a “precipitous decline” in the stock price of Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG).
The lawsuit is part of a broader trend of legal action Trump has taken against media companies during his second term. He had previously sued the Wall Street Journal and its owners for $10 billion and settled a lawsuit with Paramount, the parent company of CBS, over an interview broadcast on “60 Minutes.”
