President-elect Donald J. Trump has issued a $10 billion legal threat against The New York Times and Penguin Random House, alleging “false and defamatory statements” in their recent publications. The dispute centers on articles by Times journalists Peter Baker, Michael S. Schmidt, Susanne Craig, and Russ Buettner and the book Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success,” co-authored by Craig and Buettner.
In a ten-page letter sent a week before the election, Trump’s attorney, Edward Andrew Paltzik, demanded $10 billion in damages, describing the statements as “despicable in their falsity.”
The letter specifically targets two articles by Buettner and Craig related to their book, an October 20, 2024, piece by Baker titled “For Trump, a Lifetime of Scandals Heads Toward a Moment of Judgment” and an October 22 article by Schmidt, “As Election Nears, Kelly Warns Trump Would Rule Like a Dictator.”
The statement reflects on an earlier time when the New York Times was widely respected as the “newspaper of record,” trusted for its accuracy and impartiality. However, it suggests that this esteemed reputation is now a thing of the past. The letter accuses the Times of serving as a highly vocal supporter of the Democratic Party. It claims the paper frequently uses substantial and deliberate defamation tactics against its political adversaries.
In response, the New York Times replied on October 31, directing attorney Paltzik to Penguin Random House to address any concerns about the book. The Times reaffirmed its confidence in the accuracy of its reporting. A representative for the Times chose not to comment further, and Penguin Random House did not respond to requests for a statement.
This lawsuit represents part of Donald Trump’s larger campaign to challenge and counter media coverage he perceives as biased. On October 31, Paltzik also filed a separate lawsuit against CBS News, claiming that an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris on “60 Minutes” had been selectively edited to portray her favorably. This suit seeks $10 billion in damages. CBS has labeled the lawsuit as “completely without merit” and indicated its commitment to a robust defense.
The same day, a complaint was filed with the Federal Election Commission against The Washington Post, alleging that the paper made illegal in-kind contributions to Harris’s campaign through promoted stories. The Post maintains the claim is without merit.
On November 5, lawyers representing Trump campaign co-chief Chris LaCivita sent a letter to The Daily Beast demanding a correction and retraction over articles alleging LaCivita had “raked in” $22 million to help get Trump reelected. The Daily Beast added an editor’s note clarifying that the correct total was $19.2 million and that payments were to LaCivita’s LLC, not him personally. LaCivita’s attorney, Mark Geragos, sent another letter on November 12, stating that the editor’s note did not remedy the overall messaging of the story.
These legal maneuvers have raised concerns among journalists about potential chilling effects on press freedom. Litigation can be costly and time-consuming, leading some news organizations to consider settlements to avoid prolonged legal battles.
Trump’s history of legal actions against media outlets includes attempts to block the publication of critical books. In 2018, he sought to prevent Henry Holt from publishing Michael Wolff’s “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” and threatened legal action against Simon & Schuster over multiple titles.
“Lucky Loser,” published in September by Penguin Press, examines Trump’s financial history. It alleges that he squandered his father’s fortune and created an illusion of success. The book has been described as “a scrupulous takedown of Trump’s competence and character.”
As Trump prepares to assume office again, his confrontations with the media are expected to continue, potentially impacting the landscape of press freedom and journalistic practices in the United States.
