Former President Donald Trump has filed an extensive $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the newspaper of publishing a series of false and malicious reports that damaged his reputation and business interests. The legal action, filed in the U.S. District Court in Tampa, Florida, targets The New York Times, four of its journalists, and publisher Penguin Random House. Central to the lawsuit are articles and the book “Lucky Loser,” which Trump claims contained intentionally defamatory content, including false associations linking him to a note and drawing allegedly gifted to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003—an assertion Trump vehemently denies.
According to the court filings, Trump alleges that the Times’ reporting maliciously misrepresented his celebrity status, business record, and family background. The suit further contends that the newspaper has long pursued a partisan agenda, accusing it of abandoning journalistic integrity to serve as a “mouthpiece” for the Democratic Party, particularly in the context of the 2024 presidential election, which Trump lost to Kamala Harris. The lawsuit emphasizes the substantial economic harm suffered, notably citing a significant drop in the stock value of the Trump Media and Technology Group following the Times’ publications.
Trump has publicly criticised The New York Times on his social media platform, Truth Social, branding the paper as “one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the History of our Country” and accusing it of freely lying, smearing, and defaming him for years. He frames the lawsuit as a necessary battle to halt what he views as politically motivated attacks against him and the broader MAGA movement.
The New York Times has responded to the lawsuit by dismissing it as meritless and an attempt to suppress journalistic freedom. The company maintains confidence in the accuracy and integrity of its reporting.
This defamation suit is not Trump’s first encounter with major media outlets over disputed coverage. He has previously secured settlements against ABC News and CBS, asserting a pattern of media bias against him.
The case comes amid a turbulent media landscape shaped by partisan divides and ongoing disputes over the role of the press in political discourse. Legal experts note that defamation suits involving public figures in the United States face significant legal hurdles, particularly due to strong protections for free speech and political commentary.
This lawsuit adds to a wider context of legal and political battles surrounding media narratives and governmental transparency. As this case develops, it may further fuel debates over editorial independence, media responsibility, and the limits of political speech in a deeply polarized environment.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is current, with multiple reputable outlets reporting on the lawsuit filed on September 16, 2025. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/b2a615192ebe2dcec859eb883368dfbb?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Trump’s Truth Social post and the lawsuit filing are consistent across multiple sources, indicating originality. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/b2a615192ebe2dcec859eb883368dfbb?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is corroborated by multiple reputable sources, including The Washington Post, Reuters, and The Financial Times, enhancing its credibility. ([ft.com](https://www.ft.com/content/57daa035-b3c8-46e9-8e9e-6e271dfe6903?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims in the narrative align with recent legal actions taken by Trump against media outlets, such as the $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal. ([cnbc.com](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/16/trump-to-sue-new-york-times-for-15-billion-alleging-defamation-and-libel-.html?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, original, and supported by multiple reputable sources, with no significant discrepancies or signs of disinformation.