President Donald Trump announced [1] on Monday that he is filing a $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times for defamation and libel, days after the paper published articles alleging ties between him and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In a statement posted to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump declared his intention to pursue legal action, citing the newspaper’s reporting related to a sexually suggestive note and drawing that had been given to Epstein.
“Today, I have the Great Honor of bringing a $15 Billion Dollar Defamation and Libel Lawsuit against The New York Times,” Trump wrote.
The lawsuit, according to Trump, would be filed in Florida.
BREAKING: President Trump is SUING the New York Times for $15 BILLION, accusing them of LIBEL
“I am PROUD to hold this once respected ‘rag’ responsible!”
“The New York Times has been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long, and that stops, NOW!”… pic.twitter.com/yArYYIc7l8 [2]
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 16, 2025 [3]
He did not provide additional details about the specific claims or the timing of the filing.
The outlet did not immediately respond to inquiries outside of its regular business hours.
Trump said the lawsuit was not only about what he described as false reporting about his personal and business connections, but also about broader misrepresentations targeting his family and the Republican-led movements associated with him.
He specifically named the America First Movement and the Make America Great Again campaign, or MAGA, as subjects of what he called defamatory attacks in the newspaper’s coverage.
The lawsuit threat follows a statement Trump made last week, when he warned that legal action was forthcoming in response to the Times’ coverage of the alleged Epstein note and drawing.
Monday’s announcement marked the formal declaration of his plans to seek damages through the courts.
The dispute adds to a series of ongoing legal battles involving the president and major media outlets.
Trump has frequently clashed with prominent publications and broadcast networks, accusing them of publishing inaccurate or misleading information about him during and after his presidency.
For years New York Times trashed Trump and Republicans, spread propaganda for the left, and helped cover for Democrats.
Now they want “unity” and the “lack of unity” is all somehow Trump’s fault.
Fuck off @nytimes [4]. pic.twitter.com/N5CLoxASaA [5]
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 15, 2025 [6]
Details regarding the legal arguments that will be presented in the lawsuit have not yet been made public, nor has the court docket reflected the filing.
Trump’s team has not released any supporting documents connected to the claim at this time.
The New York Times has previously stood by its reporting in disputes involving Trump, asserting that its work meets journalistic standards and is protected by the First Amendment.
Whether the outlet will issue a similar defense in this case remains to be seen.
Trump’s announcement demonstrates his continuing conflict with the press and his repeated use of litigation as a tool to challenge coverage he deems unfair or inaccurate.
The $15 billion claim represents one of the largest monetary demands in a defamation case filed against a media organization.