Donald Trump Files Amended $15 Billion Defamation Lawsuit

President Donald Trump filed an amended $15 billion defamation lawsuit on Thursday against The New York Times and publisher Penguin Random House. The updated complaint expands allegations that reporters Susanne Craig, Russ Buettner, and Peter Baker disparaged his business record in a book and various articles to damage his reputation prior to the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

In the new filing, Trump adds specific claims of inaccuracies to argue that the reporters acted with actual malice. This amendment follows a previous ruling by Judge Steven D. Merryday of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, who dismissed the initial complaint for being too lengthy and digressive but allowed Trump time to revise the filing before ruling on a motion to dismiss.

The New York Times and Penguin Random House have both characterized the lawsuit as meritless. The Times has moved to dismiss the case, arguing that Trump failed to identify specific false statements or provide the truth.