Trump Slaps $15 Billion Lawsuit on New York Times Over Epstein Coverage
US President Donald Trump announced his intention to file a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, citing its coverage of his purported connections to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that the newspaper has engaged in a “decades-long method of lying” regarding him, his family, and his political movement. He stated, “the lawsuit would be filed in Florida.”
“Today, I have the great honour 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.” Trump stated, “I view it as the single largest illegal campaign contribution, ever.” He further alleged that the newspaper engaged in a “illegal campaign contribution” by endorsing former vice president Kamala Harris, asserting that the endorsement was notably featured on the paper’s front page. Trump further stated that the newspaper has consistently aimed its criticism at him. “The Times has engaged in a decades-long method of lying about your favourite President (me!), my family, business, the America First Movement, MAGA, and our nation as a whole,” he wrote.
Trump stated his intention to hold the paper accountable, similar to his previous actions of pursuing lawsuits against other media outlets, which he asserted were settled for “record amounts”. The announcement follows a week after Trump issued a threat to sue the publication regarding its coverage of a sexually suggestive note and drawing purportedly associated with Epstein.On Tuesday, Trump categorically denied having authored a birthday message to Epstein, which was recently made public by House Democrats. In a conversation with reporters, Trump remarked, “It’s not my signature, and it’s not the way I speak, and anybody that’s covered me for a long time knows that’s not my language.” As reportes indicates, Trump has charged the media with attempting to divert attention from his administration’s “great success” by concentrating on the letter that House Democrats asserted was part of the evidence acquired from Epstein’s estate.
House Democrats shared the purported letter on their X account, stating, “We got Trump’s birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein that the President said doesn’t exist.” Trump speaks of a ‘wonderful secret’ that the two of them shared. What is he concealing? “Release the files!” The committee additionally unveiled another document that seemed to depict Epstein and a member of Mar-a-Lago engaging in a jest about selling a woman to Trump for $22,500. In response to the allegations, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt firmly stated, “The president did not write this letter.” He did not sign this letter, and that’s why the president’s external legal team is aggressively pursuing litigation.
In 2006, Epstein faced accusations of sexually abusing underage girls, and in 2008, he entered a guilty plea to two felony charges. In 2019, he faced federal charges of sex trafficking and was subsequently arrested; however, he tragically died in jail while awaiting trial. Reports have indicated that Trump maintained a friendship with Epstein, with the two frequently spotted at social gatherings in Florida and New York. Nonetheless, Trump has stated that he removed Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club following a series of ongoing disputes.
