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U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that he plans to file a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times after the paper published a series of articles tying him to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The announcement came just days after Trump publicly threatened legal action over the reports, which referenced a sexually suggestive note and sketch allegedly linked to Epstein and bearing Trump's signature.
"Today, I am taking a stand against years of lies and malicious attacks," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. "The New York Times has been allowed to smear me, my family, and those who support the America First movement. That ends now."
The lawsuit, expected to be filed in Florida, will seek damages for what Trump claims is a coordinated effort to damage his reputation and political influence. The New York Times has not issued an immediate response to the filing but has previously defended its reporting as accurate and in the public interest.
Last week, the paper published materials allegedly connected to Epstein that suggested personal correspondence with Trump dating back more than two decades. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The White House has dismissed the documents as fabrications.
Trump's legal team has recently launched a series of high-profile defamation cases targeting major media outlets. Earlier this year, he filed a $10 billion suit against The Wall Street Journal over a separate Epstein-related article. He has also reached settlements with ABC News and Paramount following disputes over interviews and coverage he called "deliberately deceptive."
Critics argue that these lawsuits are part of Trump's broader strategy to challenge unfavorable media coverage while bolstering his position among supporters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
A spokesperson for The New York Times has previously stated that the paper "will not be intimidated" and intends to continue its reporting "without fear or favor." The outcome of Trump's latest legal battle could have significant implications for press freedom and the relationship between public figures and the media.
