In a bold move that underscores his unyielding fight against what he calls “fake news,” President Donald Trump filed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and Penguin Random House on September 16, 2025, targeting the newspaper’s relentless campaign of biased reporting aimed at undermining his legacy and 2024 reelection bid. The suit accuses the Times and four of its reporters, including Susanne Craig, of publishing false and defamatory articles and contributing to a book that falsely portrayed Trump’s finances, business dealings, and personal character, causing irreparable harm to his reputation and enterprises. Filed in federal court, the massive damages claim reflects the scale of alleged injury, from lost business opportunities to electoral sabotage, as Trump vows to hold the “failing” outlet accountable for years of what he deems weaponized journalism.

The heart of the lawsuit revolves around a series of Times exposés and the book “The Divider,” which Trump claims peddled fabricated narratives about his wealth, tax practices, and political motivations, all designed to portray him as a corrupt figure unworthy of public trust. Specific allegations include misleading stories on his real estate empire and campaign finances that ignored exculpatory evidence and relied on anonymous sources, tactics that the suit argues crossed into outright libel by recklessly disregarding the truth. This isn’t isolated; the Times has a history of adversarial coverage against Trump, from the Russia collusion saga to election denialism, which the lawsuit positions as a pattern of institutional malice rather than objective reporting, amplifying division and eroding democratic discourse.

This legal salvo is long overdue and richly deserved, as the mainstream media, epitomized by the Times, has evaded consequences for a decade of one-sided attacks on Trump that prioritized narrative over facts, fueling national polarization and public cynicism. While outlets like the Times hide behind First Amendment shields to launch character assassinations, Trump’s action signals a reckoning for an industry that has lost credibility through blatant bias, as evidenced by declining subscriptions and trust polls. It’s well deserved not just for personal vindication but to restore balance in journalism, deterring future smears and ensuring accountability for those who wield the press as a political cudgel against dissenting voices.