TRUMP FILES $ 15B DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST NEW YORK TIMES

U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the newspaper and its journalists of publishing articles and a book that damaged his reputation.
The suit, lodged Tuesday September 16, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, targets investigative pieces and the book Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success by Times reporters Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner.
Trump alleges the reporting was carried out with “actual malice,” a key legal threshold for public figures in defamation cases. He claims the coverage falsely portrayed his business record and personal finances.
The New York Times has not yet issued a formal response. Legal experts note that U.S. defamation law sets a high bar for public figures, requiring proof that the newspaper knowingly published false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
The lawsuit marks Trump’s latest clash with major media outlets as he continues his re-election campaign ahead of the 2026 vote.