The lawsuit targets both a 2024 editorial questioning Trump’s fitness for office and the book Lucky Loser, claiming the publications were made with knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth.

President Donald J. Trump on Monday announced he is filing a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, escalating his ongoing legal battle with major media outlets over coverage he claims has been false and damaging.

The lawsuit was officially filed on September 15, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and names the newspaper, four of its journalists, and publisher Penguin Random House as defendants.

Trump’s lawsuit comes days after The New York Times published a series of articles investigating his ties to financier Jeffrey Epstein, including a sexually suggestive note and drawing reportedly given to Epstein.

In a statement on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump accused the newspaper of “lying about him, his family, his businesses, and his political movements,” asserting that the paper has engaged in a “longstanding campaign of defamation” designed to damage his reputation and discredit his political influence.

“The Great Honor of bringing a $15 Billion Dollar Defamation and Libel Lawsuit against The New York Times has never felt more necessary,” Trump wrote in his Truth Social post.

He further claimed that the newspaper has operated as a “virtual mouthpiece for the Democratic Party” and has been allowed to “freely lie, smear, and defame” him without accountability.

The lawsuit specifically references a 2024 editorial that questioned Trump’s fitness for office, as well as the book Lucky Loser:

How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success, authored by Times journalists Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner.

Trump’s attorneys contend that these publications are filled with “repugnant distortions and fabrications” and assert that the defendants published them with knowledge of their falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth.

The legal action follows a pattern of similar claims by Trump against other media organizations.

In July 2025, he filed a $10 billion defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal and its parent company, News Corp, over a story alleging that he contributed a sexually suggestive drawing as part of a birthday gift to Epstein.

Trump’s legal team argued that the publication was false and caused substantial harm to his public image and business interests.

Legal experts note that defamation lawsuits involving public figures such as Trump face significant hurdles, particularly the requirement to prove “actual malice,” meaning that the defendant knowingly published false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.

The damages sought in this latest case, however, are unprecedented in scale and highlight the seriousness with which Trump is pursuing the matter. $15 billion, if awarded, would represent one of the largest defamation settlements in U.S. history.

The lawsuit also alleges that The New York Times has targeted not only Trump personally, but also his family, business ventures, and political initiatives, including the America First Movement and the Make America Great Again (MAGA) platform.

Trump claims that these false portrayals have caused both reputational and financial harm, impacting his influence within the Republican Party and the broader political landscape.

The filing includes detailed allegations against individual journalists and editors, claiming that they collaborated on stories and editorial content with the intent to damage Trump’s public standing.

While the lawsuit does not explicitly cite communications or internal documents from The New York Times, it frames the newspaper’s reporting as part of a pattern of “malicious intent and reckless disregard for the truth,” establishing a legal narrative that could shape the litigation strategy.

The New York Times has not issued a public response to the filing. Historically, the newspaper has defended its reporting on Trump, maintaining that coverage is based on verifiable documents, interviews, and public records.

Legal observers expect the Times to vigorously contest the lawsuit, arguing that Trump, as a public figure, faces a high bar in proving defamation.

Observers note that this lawsuit also raises broader questions about the balance between press freedom and the protection of individual reputations.

Legal scholars suggest that a ruling in favor of Trump could set a precedent affecting investigative journalism and First Amendment protections.

Conversely, a dismissal or failure to secure substantial damages could reinforce media organizations’ ability to report on public figures without fear of crippling litigation.

Trump’s announcement of the lawsuit coincides with ongoing political activity, as he continues to wield influence within the Republican Party and prepares for potential future electoral campaigns.

Analysts suggest that the lawsuit may serve a dual purpose: both as a legal strategy and as a political statement, reinforcing Trump’s narrative of being targeted by what he calls “biased mainstream media.”

As the case moves forward, court proceedings, depositions, and pretrial motions are expected to generate widespread media coverage.

Both legal experts and political analysts anticipate that the litigation will involve extensive examination of journalistic practices, editorial decision-making, and the line between reporting and alleged defamation.

The high-profile nature of the case, coupled with the enormous financial claim, ensures that it will remain in the public eye for months, if not years, to come.

This lawsuit adds to a growing list of legal challenges facing Trump and his associated businesses.

Despite the contentious and politically charged environment, Trump’s team emphasizes that the litigation seeks accountability and vindication, framing it as a defense of both personal and political reputation against what they describe as sustained attacks by a major media institution.