Former President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has filed a $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times, alleging defamation and libel.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump criticized the newspaper as “one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the History of our Country,” claiming it has acted as a “virtual mouthpiece for the Radical Left Democrat Party.”

The lawsuit marks the latest in a series of legal actions Trump has pursued against media organizations, reflecting his ongoing battle with outlets he accuses of biased reporting. Details of the specific claims and alleged defamatory statements have not yet been made public.

Legal analysts note that defamation cases involving public figures, particularly former presidents, are subject to high legal standards. Plaintiffs must prove that statements were made with “actual malice,” meaning that the publisher knew the statements were false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.

The New York Times has not yet issued a response to the filing. The case is expected to draw national attention as it unfolds in the courts.

Trump characterized the alleged defamation as “the single largest illegal campaign contribution, ever,” claiming that The New York Times’ endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris was placed “dead center on the front page… something heretofore unheard of.”

Former President Donald Trump has intensified his legal battle against The New York Times, filing a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit and alleging a decades-long campaign of false reporting against him, his family, and his businesses.

“The Times has engaged in a decades-long method of lying about your favorite President (ME!), my family, business, the America First Movement, MAGA, and our Nation as a whole,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added that he is “PROUD to hold this once respected ‘rag’ responsible,” citing previous settlements against ABC and CBS, which Fox News noted reached $15 million and $30 million, respectively.

Trump argued that the Times has been “allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long, and that stops, NOW!” He confirmed that the suit is being filed in Florida, concluding, “Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

The lawsuit claims that during the 2024 election, Trump faced “persistent election interference from the legacy media, led most notoriously by The New York Times.” It alleges that the newspaper sought to achieve multiple objectives: to damage Trump’s reputation as a businessman, to undermine his 2024 presidential bid, and to prejudice judicial proceedings against him, his family, and his businesses.

According to the suit, the Times does not have “unqualified privilege to make false, malicious, and defamatory statements about its opponents in order to try and ruin their lives and livelihoods.” Trump’s legal team emphasized that the lawsuit is meant to send a message to Americans frustrated with what they view as systemic journalistic corruption, signaling that the era of unchecked defamation by the legacy media is over.

The New York Times responded to Trump’s lawsuit with a firm rejection, telling CNN, “This lawsuit has no merit. It lacks any legitimate legal claims and instead is an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting.”

The paper added, “The New York Times will not be deterred by intimidation tactics. We will continue to pursue the facts without fear or favor.”