Trump files $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times

President Donald Trump filed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and four of its journalists on Monday, according to court documents. A spokesperson from the prestigious newspaper said that the suit had "no merit".

The lawsuit filed in the US District Court in Florida names several articles and one book written by two of the publication's journalists and published in the lead-up to the 2024 election, saying they are "part of a decades-long pattern by the New York Times of intentional and malicious defamation against President Trump."

"Defendants published such statements negligently, with knowledge of the falsity of the statements, and/or with reckless disregard of their truth or falsity," the lawsuit says.

The New York Times did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment early Tuesday. A spokesperson for the NYT has since said that the newspaper "would not be deterred by intimidation tactics" and that the lawsuit was an attempt to "stifle and discourage independent reporting".

In a Truth Social post announcing the lawsuit, Trump accused The New York Times of lying about him and defaming him, saying it has become "a virtual 'mouthpiece' for the Radical Left Democrat Party."

Trump has gone after other media outlets, including filing a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch in July after the newspaper published a story reporting on his ties to wealthy financier and convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein.