Trump Files $15B Defamation Suit Against Journalists

Post by :

Photo:AP

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has started a massive $15 billion legal battle against a group of journalists, claiming they spread false stories about him. The case was filed in a federal court in Florida on Monday, September 15, 2025, and it targets several articles and even a book that were published before the 2024 presidential election.

According to the legal documents, Trump believes these publications did not just make mistakes but carried out a “long-term campaign” to damage his reputation. He accuses the writers of publishing statements they knew were not true, or at the very least, statements they did not care to check carefully. The lawsuit says the reporting was done with “reckless disregard” for the truth.

In his statement shared online, Trump said the journalists and their publishers had been spreading lies about him for years and have turned into a tool of his political rivals. He accused them of acting as if they were supporting the Democratic Party, which he often calls the “Radical Left.”

This new legal action is not the first time Trump has gone after media organizations or journalists. Just two months ago, in July 2025, he filed a $10 billion lawsuit against another major newspaper and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. That earlier case focused on a story that linked Trump to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, a subject that has followed him for years.

Trump’s latest lawsuit points to specific stories and even a book that were circulated widely during the heated campaign season of 2024. He argues that these stories not only misled the public but also harmed his image at a crucial time when he was trying to return to the White House.

By asking for $15 billion in damages, Trump is sending a strong message that he intends to fight back against what he sees as false reporting. Legal experts say the size of the claim is one of the largest ever made in a defamation case involving a public figure. Defamation lawsuits filed by politicians are often difficult to win because the law gives journalists wide protection under free speech. However, Trump’s legal team believes they can prove the writers acted maliciously, meaning they deliberately tried to harm him.

The case is likely to draw huge attention both in the United States and abroad. Trump has remained a headline figure even after leaving office, and his actions—whether in politics, business, or the courtroom—always create waves. Supporters say he is right to stand up against what they call “unfair reporting,” while critics argue that such lawsuits are attempts to silence the press.

So far, the journalists named in the lawsuit have not given any official comment. Legal proceedings are expected to take months, or even years, to resolve, depending on how the court handles the arguments. If the case goes to trial, it could become one of the most closely watched defamation battles in recent history.

This development adds yet another chapter to Trump’s long-running fight with reporters. For years, he has described them as biased against him, using phrases like “fake news.” With this $15 billion claim, he is once again showing that he is willing to take the battle from the political stage into the courtroom.