Donald Trump Sues the New York Times for $15 Billion, Continuing Pattern of Litigation Against Media
In a highly unusual move, former President Donald Trump is pursuing a civil lawsuit against The new York Times, seeking at least $15 billion in compensatory damages, plus unspecified punitive damages. The suit alleges defamation stemming from the newspaper’s reporting on Trump’s finances and conduct.
The complaint,described by legal observers as unconventional,includes what some characterize as extraneous images and reads similarly to a lengthy social media post,according to writer Jesse berney,who summarized it as “like an 85-page Trump Truth Social post. It’s hilarious.” James Ball shared images of seemingly random Trump-related visuals included within the filing.
Among the defendants named in the suit are Times journalists Susanne Craig, Peter Baker, and Michael schmidt, all of whom have at times contributed to or worked as analysts for MSNBC or NBC News. Trump, in a post on his social media platform, described The New York Times as “one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the History of our Country,” claiming it has ”engaged in a decades long method of lying about your Favourite President (ME!).”
Legal experts suggest the case is unlikely to succeed, and Trump’s attorneys could potentially face sanctions for filing what is being called an “absurdity.” However, the lawsuit is being viewed as a significant demonstration of Trump’s hostility toward the First Amendment and a free press.
This action follows a series of similar civil suits Trump has filed against other news organizations, including The wall Street Journal, CBS News, ABC News, The Des Moines Register, and CNN. According to Reuters,Trump has repeatedly sued media outlets for publishing reports his administration or he personally disapproved of.
Notably, no sitting U.S.president has previously pursued legal action against independent news organizations for reporting they disliked. This pattern of litigation raises concerns about the potential chilling effect on investigative journalism and the ongoing attacks on the media.
