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FIRST ON FOX — President Donald Trump has officially refiled his $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times after a previous court ruling dismissed it due to its excessive length.
The amended complaint was submitted to the U.S. District Court for Florida’s Middle District in Tampa. It alleges defamation against The New York Times, referencing two articles published in 2024 and a book written by two Times reporters in the previous year. Trump is pursuing $15 billion in damages, in addition to punitive damages.
According to a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team, “President Trump is continuing to hold the Fake News responsible through this powerhouse lawsuit against the New York Times, its reporters, and Penguin Random House.”
The lawsuit identifies The New York Times Company as a primary defendant. Other defendants include reporters Susanne Craig, Russ Buettner, Peter Baker, and Michael S. Schmidt, along with Penguin Random House, which published the book “Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success” authored by Craig and Buettner.
In an effort to gather response, Fox News Digital reached out to both The New York Times and Penguin Random House for comments regarding the refiling.
Last month, a federal judge had dismissed the original lawsuit, which spanned 85 pages. The judge mandated that Trump submit a new complaint within 28 days, limiting it to a maximum of 40 pages. The latest filing adheres to this requirement.
The refilled complaint accuses The Times of defamation concerning its reporting on Trump’s tenure as the star of “The Apprentice” and includes allegations of dubious tax practices that he purportedly engaged in.
This lawsuit represents just one of several actions Trump has taken against prominent media outlets. He has previously filed defamation suits against ABC News, CBS News, and The Wall Street Journal. Over the past year, Trump has achieved eight-figure settlements against ABC News and CBS News.
Last December, ABC News agreed to a settlement of $15 million as a charitable contribution towards a future presidential museum or foundation. This agreement followed remarks made by anchor George Stephanopoulos, who claimed on air that Trump was found liable for rape instead of sexual abuse. In addition to the settlement, ABC News paid $1 million in legal expenses.
Moreover, Trump initiated an “election interference” lawsuit against CBS following its edited interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris that aired last year. He argued that the editing choices misled the public. Ahead of a substantial $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, CBS’s parent company, Paramount, settled this lawsuit in July for an amount which could reach upwards of $30 million.
Fox News’ David Rutz contributed to this report.
As this case continues to unfold, it will be important to observe how it impacts Trump’s public image and his ongoing relationship with media outlets. Notably, the pursuit of significant financial compensation highlights the contentious nature of Trump’s interactions with the press and raises questions about the future of media reporting on high-profile public figures.
In the landscape of defamation lawsuits, this case exemplifies the increasingly aggressive tactics being employed by individuals seeking to challenge perceived media biases or misrepresentation. As more high-profile figures leverage the legal system against media organizations, the implications for freedom of the press and accountability in journalism become significant topics for discussion.
The ongoing developments related to Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The New York Times could shape not only his legal strategy but also influence the broader conversation around the media’s role in covering powerful figures. Observers will be keen to monitor the response of The New York Times and how the legal proceedings progress in the coming months.
