Cliff Notes
- Donald Trump has filed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, alleging bias and false reporting regarding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
- The lawsuit was prompted by articles detailing a note allegedly written by Trump to Epstein, which Trump claims is not in his handwriting.
- The New York Times maintains its reporting was factual and stands by its journalists’ First Amendment rights.
Trump sues New York Times | US News
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Donald Trump has announced he’s suing The New York Times, just days after he threatened to do so over its reporting into his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US president said he had “the Great Honor of bringing a $15bn Defamation and Libel Lawsuit” against “one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the History of our Country”.
Mr Trump’s lengthy post – made late on Monday – is focused on his belief the outlet is bias towards the Democrats, citing the endorsement of Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential election.
It has “been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long”, he added.
The lawsuit – which has been brought in Florida – comes after Mr Trump raised the prospect of suing the newspaper last week for publishing articles about alleged notes he had sent Epstein.
He dismissed the reporting as false.
A lewd birthday message Trump allegedly sent to the convicted sex offender for his 50th birthday in 2003 was published by the US Congress days later.
The pages are contained in files from the estate of the deceased billionaire paedophile, handed over to a Congressional committee.
The collection of birthday tributes include a hand-drawing of a woman’s body, signed “Donald”. They also contain a picture of Epstein holding an outsized cheque, signed by “DJTRUMP”.
Mr Trump has maintained the note wasn’t written by him, claiming the handwriting and signature do not match his own.
The “birthday book” also included notes from former British minister Peter Mandelson, who has been sacked as the UK’s ambassador to the US over revelations about his relationship with Epstein.
Mr Trump has repeatedly denied any impropriety involving Epstein, whom he once counted as a friend.
Responding to his initial threat to sue, a spokeswoman for The New York Times said last week: “Our journalists reported the facts, provided the visual evidence and printed the president’s denial. It’s all there for the American people to see and to make up their own minds about.
“We will continue to pursue the facts without fear or favour and stand up for journalists’ First Amendment right to ask questions on behalf of the American people.”