- Trump accuses The New York Times of publishing false and malicious reports
- Legal action targets articles and the book “Lucky Loser” linked to defamation claims
- Suit claims economic harm amid ongoing media-political conflicts
Donald Trump has filed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, four of its journalists, and publisher Penguin Random House, alleging they damaged his reputation and business interests through false and malicious reporting.
Filed in federal court in Tampa, Florida, the suit focuses on Times articles and the book Lucky Loser, which Trump claims contained defamatory material, including what he calls a fabricated link between him and a note and drawing allegedly gifted to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. Trump denies any connection.
The complaint accuses the Times of misrepresenting his celebrity status, business record and family background, and of acting as a partisan “mouthpiece” for Democrats during the 2024 presidential election, which Trump lost to Kamala Harris. It also claims the coverage contributed to a sharp fall in the stock value of Trump Media and Technology Group.
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump called the Times “one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the History of our Country,” accusing it of lying and defaming him for years. He framed the lawsuit as part of a broader fight against political attacks on him and the MAGA movement.
The New York Times dismissed the lawsuit as meritless and said it stands by the accuracy of its reporting.
Trump has previously sued media outlets, including ABC News and CBS, securing settlements he said proved a pattern of bias. He also has an outstanding case against The Wall Street Journal relating to revelations about his relationship with the dead paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/2025/09/16/media-news-daily-top-stories-for-09-16-2025/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-sues-new-york-times-defamation-libel-seeks-15-billion-2025-09-16/ – On September 16, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump filed a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, four of its reporters, and publisher Penguin Random House. The lawsuit focuses on a series of Times articles and the book ‘Lucky Loser,’ alleging intentional publication of false and damaging content that caused significant reputational harm and economic losses, particularly citing a steep drop in the stock value of Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG). This action follows Trump’s recent threats to sue the Times over its reporting on his alleged connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
- https://www.apnews.com/article/b2a615192ebe2dcec859eb883368dfbb – Former President Donald Trump has filed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, targeting four of its journalists over a book and several articles published ahead of the previous election. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Florida, claims the articles maliciously misrepresented Trump’s celebrity status, business record, and family background. Trump alleges that the Times has long engaged in biased reporting against him and the MAGA movement, especially following his 2016 victory. The Times responded by calling the lawsuit meritless and an attempt to suppress journalistic freedom, vowing to stand by its reporting.
- https://www.ft.com/content/57daa035-b3c8-46e9-8e9e-6e271dfe6903 – On September 16, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump filed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the newspaper of spreading false and defamatory content. Filed in a Florida district court, the lawsuit claims the NYT has abandoned journalistic integrity to serve as a partisan voice for the Democratic Party, particularly targeting Trump during the 2024 election, which he lost to Kamala Harris. The suit cites NYT articles derived from the book ‘Lucky Loser,’ alleging they unfairly portray Trump’s business dealings and his role in The Apprentice.
- https://www.reuters.com/legal/fox-defeats-defamation-lawsuit-by-former-biden-anti-disinformation-official-2024-07-22/ – Fox News Media and Fox Corp successfully dismissed a defamation lawsuit by Nina Jankowicz, former head of the Disinformation Governance Board under the Biden administration. Jankowicz claimed Fox’s broadcasts defamed her and forced her to resign. However, Chief U.S. District Judge Colm Connolly ruled that Jankowicz could not substantiate her claims, noting that the Fox News statements targeted the board rather than Jankowicz directly and were likely perceived as protected opinions. Fox described the lawsuit as politically motivated to suppress free speech. Jankowicz’s lawyers plan to appeal the decision. The Disinformation Governance Board, criticized by conservatives, was suspended and dissolved in 2022.
- https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/16/trump-to-sue-new-york-times-for-15-billion-alleging-defamation-and-libel-.html – U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday filed a $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times, alleging defamation and libel, and calling the newspaper a ‘mouthpiece’ for the Democratic party. In a post on Truth Social, Trump attacked the newspaper for being ‘a virtual ‘mouthpiece’ for the Radical Left Democratic Party,’ while accusing it of making false statements about him, his family and business, without elaborating on the allegations. The lawsuit suit has been brought in the state of Florida, according to a court filing.
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/09/16/trump-new-york-times-defamation-lawsuit/ – President Donald Trump filed a defamation lawsuit Monday against The New York Times and several of its reporters, accusing the newspaper of libeling him in several articles in the lead-up to last year’s presidential election. In a Truth Social post late Monday, Trump described the 174-year-old newspaper as ‘one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the History of our Country.’ ‘The New York Times has been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long, and that stops, NOW!’ he wrote.
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.
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