On Monday, September 15, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the newspaper of spreading false and damaging claims about him. The lawsuit, filed in a federal district court in Florida—a state known for its strong Republican support—targets the newspaper’s recent coverage, including articles linking Trump to the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and its endorsement of Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election.
Allegations of Defamation
Trump described The New York Times as “one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers” in the U.S., accusing it of acting as a “virtual mouthpiece” for the Democratic Party. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump claimed the newspaper had been allowed to “freely lie, smear, and defame” him for too long. He specifically criticized its coverage of a sexually suggestive note and drawing allegedly given to Epstein, which Trump denies authoring. The lawsuit also cites a 2024 book, Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success, written by NYT reporters Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner, as well as an editorial from before the 2024 election that called Trump unfit for office.
According to the legal filing, these publications contained “repugnant distortions and fabrications” that caused significant harm to Trump’s personal and business reputation, including a drop in the stock value of his Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG). Trump’s lawyers argue that the newspaper’s actions have inflicted “major economic harm” on his brand and future financial prospects.
Focus on the Harris Endorsement
A key point in Trump’s lawsuit is The New York Times’ endorsement of Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election. Trump called the endorsement, which appeared prominently on the newspaper’s front page, “the single largest illegal campaign contribution, EVER,” though he provided no evidence to support this claim. He argued that the placement of the endorsement was unprecedented and accused the newspaper of engaging in election interference through biased reporting.
Context of Trump’s Legal Battles
This lawsuit is not Trump’s first legal action against major media outlets. He recently settled lawsuits against ABC News and its anchor George Stephanopoulos for $15 million and against Paramount over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris for $16 million. Additionally, Trump has an ongoing lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, over similar claims related to the Epstein note. In the past, Trump’s attempts to sue The New York Times—including a 2021 case over a story about his tax records and a 2023 case involving his niece, Mary Trump—were dismissed by judges as protected speech under constitutional law.
Epstein Connection and Public Reaction
The lawsuit comes amid renewed scrutiny of Trump’s past association with Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted pedophile who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. Epstein’s connections to high-profile figures, including Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew, have fueled public interest and conspiracy theories. Trump has maintained that he severed ties with Epstein before the financier’s legal troubles became public in 2006. However, the display of a photograph of Trump and Epstein on a van in Aberdeen, Scotland, on July 28, 2025, has kept the issue in the spotlight.
The Broader Media Conflict
Trump’s legal action against The New York Times reflects his ongoing criticism of media outlets he perceives as hostile to his presidency. He has accused other news organizations and television programs of using “a highly sophisticated system of document and visual alteration” to smear him. The lawsuit also highlights a broader trend, as other major outlets, such as The Washington Post, faced criticism for choosing not to endorse any candidate in the 2024 election, a decision some viewed as an attempt to avoid antagonizing Trump.
The New York Times has not yet issued a public response to the lawsuit, and Penguin Random House, the publisher of Lucky Loser, has also remained silent. As the case moves forward in Florida’s federal court, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s claims will hold up or if, like his previous lawsuits against the newspaper, this one will be dismissed.