Former President Donald Trump has filed a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times and several of its reporters, including Michael Schmidt. The suit was submitted in federal court in Tampa, Florida.
Trump accused the newspaper of acting as a “mouthpiece” for the Democratic Party and claimed it gave Vice President Kamala Harris an illegal campaign contribution through its endorsement. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said:
“Today, I have the Great Honor of bringing a $15 Billion Dollar Defamation and Libel Lawsuit against The New York Times, one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the History of our Country, becoming a virtual “mouthpiece” for the Radical Left Democrat Party. I view it as the single largest illegal Campaign contribution, EVER. Their Endorsement of Kamala Harris was actually put dead center on the front page of The New York Times, something heretofore UNHEARD OF! The “Times” has engaged in a decades long method of lying about your Favorite President (ME!), my family, business, the America First Movement, MAGA, and our Nation as a whole. I am PROUD to hold this once respected “rag” responsible, as we are doing with the Fake News Networks such as our successful litigation against George Slopadopoulos/ABC/Disney, and 60 Minutes/CBS/Paramount, who knew that they were falsely “smearing” me through a highly sophisticated system of document and visual alteration, which was, in effect, a malicious form of defamation, and thus, settled for record amounts. They practiced this longterm INTENT and pattern of abuse, which is both unacceptable and illegal. The New York Times has been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long, and that stops, NOW! The suit is being brought in the Great State of Florida. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump said on Truth Social.
Earlier this year Paramount Global and CBS agreed to pay millions to settle another lawsuit with Trump regarding editorial practices related to an interview with Kamala Harris. As part of that settlement agreement reported by Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/, Trump will receive $16 million up front.
Previously last October Trump sued CBS News for what he called deceptive editing during its ’60 Minutes’ segment with Harris; that suit was increased from $10 billion to $20 billion.
Trump also recently filed legal action against Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal over statements made about his correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein.
