Former U.S. President Donald Trump has taken renewed legal action by filing an amended defamation suit demanding $15 billion against the New York Times, Penguin Random House and several named journalists. The lawsuit arises from reported coverage and a book that Trump alleges contain false and damaging statements about his business record and personal character.
In September 2025, a federal judge rejected his initial complaint because it failed to meet the clarity requirements of Rule 8(a) in federal civil procedure. He was granted 28 days to refile. The revised complaint is now approximately 40 pages long and includes much of the original content and claims.
Trump’s lawsuit points to articles and the book Lucky Loser (by New York Times journalists) that question his narrative of being a self‑made businessman and scrutinize his inherited wealth and business practices. He alleges “actual malice” on the part of the defendants and seeks both compensatory and unspecified punitive damages.
Defendants including the New York Times have called the lawsuit “meritless”. Legal analysts warn the case could chill investigative journalism by imposing heavy legal burdens on media organizations. The suit is part of a larger trend of Trump’s litigation strategy targeting media outlets and individual journalists.
The case adds to Trump’s extensive legal entanglements, including his prior impeachment trials, criminal indictments, and civil liability findings. It underscores his ongoing confrontations with the press and the broader debate over defamation claims, press freedom and the role of media in holding powerful figures accountable.
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