In a bold move that once again puts the mainstream media on notice, President Donald Trump has refiled his $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. This comes after a federal judge rejected the original filing due to its excessive length. The lawsuit, now trimmed down to 40 pages, was refiled Thursday in the U.S. District Court for Florida’s Middle District in Tampa.
The crux of the case centers on two 2024 articles and a book authored by two Times reporters, which Trump claims defamed him. In this legal battle, he’s demanding a hefty $15 billion in damages, along with punitive damages. As his spokesman put it, "President Trump is continuing to hold the Fake News responsible through this powerhouse lawsuit against the New York Times, its reporters, and Penguin Random House."
The defendants named in the lawsuit are none other than The New York Times Company, reporters Susanne Craig, Russ Buettner, Peter Baker, and Michael S. Schmidt, as well as Penguin Random House, the publisher of the book Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success, written by Craig and Buettner.
Of course, The New York Times quickly responded, brushing off the lawsuit as without merit. A spokesperson for the paper remarked, "This lawsuit has no merit. Nothing has changed today. This is merely an attempt to stifle independent reporting and generate PR attention, but The New York Times will not be deterred by intimidation tactics." It’s almost laughable that they think this is about PR when it's clearly about holding the media accountable for their false narratives.
In a prior ruling, a federal judge had instructed Trump’s legal team to amend the complaint and shorten it from an 85-page behemoth to no more than 40 pages. The amended complaint now adheres to those guidelines, focusing on defamation related to the reporting on Trump’s time as the star of The Apprentice and the dubious tax maneuvers he’s been accused of. The media's attempts to destroy his reputation with misleading and defamatory reporting are well-documented—and Trump is not going to let them get away with it.
This legal drama is just the latest chapter in Trump’s fight against what he and many Americans see as a media landscape that’s hell-bent on distorting the truth. And let’s not forget, this isn’t his only lawsuit against the media. Trump also took action against CBS over their “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing them of election interference. After CBS' parent company, Paramount, settled the lawsuit, the amount could end up being upwards of $30 million.
While the mainstream media may keep throwing shade, Trump is making it clear that he’s not backing down. He’s demanding accountability—and if the media keeps spreading lies, they can expect more lawsuits. The message is simple: keep spreading fake news, and you'll have to pay the price. The American people are behind Trump in holding the media accountable, and it's about time they learn their lesson. Keep fighting, Mr. President!
