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Trump v. New York Times Company, et al.

Bob Weeks

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Here is a condensed briefing note (2?3 pages, APA-style) summarizing the Trump v. New York Times defamation complaint. Assistance from ChatGPT.

Briefing Note: Trump v. New York Times Company, et al. (Filed Sept. 15, 2025)

Case Overview

Donald J. Trump filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, against the New York Times Company, four of its reporters (Susanne Craig, Russ Buettner, Peter Baker, Michael S. Schmidt), and Penguin Random House LLC. The complaint demands a jury trial and seeks substantial damages, alleging defamation tied to a 2024 book and three articles published in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.

Nature of the Action

Trump claims the defendants engaged in a coordinated defamation campaign aimed at:

  1. Undermining his reputation as a businessman.
  2. Damaging his 2024 presidential candidacy.
  3. Prejudicing ongoing legal proceedings against him.

Central to the complaint are:

  • Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father?s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success (Craig & Buettner, Penguin, Sept. 2024).
  • Three New York Times articles published in Sept.?Oct. 2024, portraying Trump as scandal-ridden and suggesting that producer Mark Burnett ?discovered? him through The Apprentice.

Trump asserts these works constitute malicious, false, and disparaging statements, timed to influence the election.

Jurisdiction and Venue

  • Jurisdiction: Based on diversity of citizenship (Trump in Florida; defendants in New York, Delaware, and D.C.) with damages exceeding \$75,000.
  • Venue: Trump argues Florida is appropriate because:
    • NYT sells thousands of papers and has digital subscribers in Florida.
    • Penguin sells and distributes books in Florida, with a Miami office.
    • Trump?s businesses (e.g., Truth Social in Sarasota) and personal reputation are centered in Florida.

Key Factual Allegations

Trump?s Reputation

  • Trump recounts his long record of business achievements, real estate development, bestselling books, and television success (The Apprentice).
  • He argues he was already a celebrity decades before Burnett?s involvement, citing 60 Minutes (1985), Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, and GQ profiles.

Alleged Falsehoods

  • The complaint targets the claim that Burnett ?discovered? Trump and made him a celebrity.
  • Trump calls this ?maliciously false,? noting that national media had already labeled him a prominent billionaire in the 1980s.
  • He accuses defendants of ignoring contrary facts and fabricating a narrative to damage him.

Pattern of Defamation

  • Trump alleges a decades-long pattern of hostility from the New York Times.
  • He highlights past use of leaked tax records, hostile editorials, and long-running coverage designed to discredit him.

Harm Alleged

  • Economic harm: Devaluation of the Trump brand, businesses, and properties.
  • Reputational harm: Tarnishing his image as a successful businessman and president.
  • Political harm: Attempted sabotage of his 2024 campaign and legacy.

Causes of Action

The complaint asserts two counts of defamation:

  1. Defamation Per Se (Count I)
  • Alleging unprivileged, false statements inherently harmful to Trump?s reputation.
  • Claims defendants acted with actual malice and reckless disregard for truth.
  1. Defamation Per Quod (Count II)
  • Alleging context-dependent defamatory statements.
  • Claims negligence, bad faith, and intentional harm to Trump?s reputation and business interests.

Damages and Relief Requested

Trump seeks:

  • Compensatory damages of no less than \$15 billion.
  • Punitive damages (amount to be set at trial).
  • Costs of litigation and other relief as the court deems appropriate.
  • Jury trial on all issues.

Strategic Framing

The lawsuit is presented as part of Trump?s broader effort to challenge ?legacy media?. The complaint cites Trump?s earlier settlements with ABC and CBS (totaling over \$36 million) as precedent-setting victories against what he labels ?fake news.? He portrays the Times and Penguin as partisan actors engaged in election interference and ?industrial-scale defamation.?

Conclusion

Trump?s lawsuit against the New York Times and Penguin is framed not only as a personal defense of his reputation but as a larger political and cultural battle over the power of mainstream media. The extraordinary damages request?\$15 billion?underscores the case?s high stakes. The outcome could set significant precedent for the limits of press freedom and the scope of defamation law in the political arena.

References

Trump v. New York Times Company, et al., Complaint, Case No. 8:25-cv-02487 (M.D. Fla. Sept. 15, 2025).

Here is a longer, structured summary of the 85-page complaint Trump v. New York Times Company, et al. (filed September 15, 2025).

I. Parties

  • Plaintiff: Donald J. Trump, resident of Florida, former 45th and current 47th U.S. President, and businessman.
  • Defendants:
    • New York Times Company (publisher).
    • Reporters: Susanne Craig, Russ Buettner, Peter Baker, Michael S. Schmidt.
    • Penguin Random House LLC (publisher of the book in question).

II. Nature of the Action

Trump alleges that the defendants engaged in a coordinated, malicious defamation campaign to damage his reputation and interfere in the 2024 election. The complaint centers on:

  1. A September 2024 book, Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father?s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success (Craig and Buettner, published by Penguin).
  2. Three New York Times articles published in September?October 2024:
  • The Star-Making Machine That Created ?Donald Trump? (Craig & Buettner).
  • For Trump, a Lifetime of Scandals Heads Toward a Moment of Judgment (Baker).
  • As Election Nears, Kelly Warns Trump Would Rule Like a Dictator (Schmidt).

Trump argues these works falsely portrayed him as fabricated by TV producer Mark Burnett, maligned his business record, and tarnished his personal reputation. He claims this fits a long-term pattern of New York Times hostility.

III. Jurisdiction and Venue

  • Brought in the Middle District of Florida (Tampa Division).
  • Jurisdiction based on diversity (Trump in Florida, defendants in New York, Delaware, D.C.; damages exceed \$75,000).
  • Venue justified because the book and articles were distributed and sold widely in Florida, with Penguin maintaining a Miami office and NYT publishing Florida editions.

IV. Factual Allegations

  1. Election Context: Trump emphasizes his 2024 election victory, portraying the publications as last-minute election interference designed to damage his candidacy.
  2. Business Reputation: He outlines decades of real estate, television, and branding success to show the alleged falsity of claims that Burnett ?discovered? him.
  3. Alleged Malice: The complaint cites contradictions within the defendants? own work (e.g., admitting Trump was famous long before The Apprentice) as proof of reckless disregard for truth.
  4. Pattern of Defamation: Trump argues the Times has acted as a partisan actor against him since 2015.
  5. Harm: He claims reputational, business, and financial injury, particularly in Florida, where his enterprises and Truth Social are based.

V. Causes of Action

The complaint asserts two main counts:

  1. Defamation Per Se (Count I) ? Alleging that statements were inherently defamatory, made with actual malice, and designed to harm Trump?s reputation and career.
  2. Defamation Per Quod (Count II) ? Alleging additional defamatory statements requiring extrinsic context but still damaging, published negligently and with malice.

VI. Relief Requested

Trump demands:

  • Compensatory damages of not less than \$15 billion.
  • Punitive damages in an amount to be determined at trial.
  • Costs of the action and other relief deemed proper by the court.
  • Jury trial on all issues.

VII. Overall Framing

The complaint frames the lawsuit as part of Trump?s broader campaign to fight what he calls ?industrial-scale defamation? by legacy media. It portrays the Times and Penguin not as neutral publishers but as partisan actors engaged in election interference, business sabotage, and reputational harm. Trump positions the case as a stand against ?unchecked? falsehoods in journalism.

Here is a chapter-by-chapter walkthrough of the 85-page complaint Trump v. New York Times Company, et al. (filed Sept. 15, 2025).

I. Cover Page and Introduction

The complaint is styled in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division. Plaintiff Donald J. Trump sues the New York Times Company, four reporters (Craig, Buettner, Baker, Schmidt), and Penguin Random House LLC. The case is designated a Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial.

II. Nature of the Action

  • Trump highlights his 2024 election victory over Kamala Harris, framing it as historic despite alleged media interference.
  • He claims the New York Times has abandoned objectivity, serving as a partisan organ of the Democratic Party.
  • The lawsuit centers on:
    1. Penguin?s 2024 book Lucky Loser (Craig & Buettner).
    2. Three NYT articles (Sept.?Oct. 2024) portraying him as scandal-ridden and as ?discovered? by Mark Burnett.
  • Trump asserts the publications aimed to: (a) damage his reputation as a businessman, (b) sabotage his 2024 candidacy, and (c) prejudice ongoing legal cases against him.

III. Parties

  • Plaintiff: Donald J. Trump, resident of Florida, businessman, 45th and 47th U.S. President.
  • Defendants:
    • New York Times Company (New York-based).
    • Reporters:

    • Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner (specializing in Trump?s finances, recipients of stolen tax returns).

    • Peter Baker (chief White House correspondent, critical of Trump, married to journalist Susan Glasser).
    • Michael S. Schmidt (reporter, author of earlier anti-Trump book, MSNBC contributor).
    • Penguin Random House LLC, Delaware company, major U.S. trade publisher, with a Florida office.

IV. Jurisdiction and Venue

  • Based on diversity jurisdiction (Trump in Florida, defendants in NY, DE, DC; amount in controversy exceeds \$75,000).

  • Florida courts have personal jurisdiction since:

    • NYT sells thousands of print editions and has online subscribers in Florida.
    • Penguin distributes and sells books, including Lucky Loser, in Florida, with a Miami office.
  • Trump stresses reputational injury within Florida, particularly harmful to his businesses (e.g., Truth Social, based in Sarasota).

V. Factual Allegations

A. Trump?s Background

  • Lengthy sections recount Trump?s business empire, real estate projects, and international properties.
  • Cites his media prominence, bestselling books (The Art of the Deal, etc.), and appearances on films and television.
  • Special emphasis on The Apprentice as a global cultural success entirely due to his charisma and acumen.

B. Alleged Falsehoods

  • The central dispute: Craig and Buettner?s claim that Burnett and NBC ?discovered? Trump and built his celebrity via The Apprentice.
  • Trump argues this is demonstrably false because:
    • He was already a household name by the 1980s (profiled on 60 Minutes, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, GQ cover, etc.).
    • Even NYT itself once called him a ?celebrity builder.?
  • Trump accuses defendants of selectively distorting history, ignoring his fame and success, and acting with ?reckless disregard for truth.?

C. Pattern of Defamation

  • Trump cites the Times? long-standing adversarial coverage since 2015, framing it as ?industrial-scale defamation.?
  • Mentions reporters? use of stolen tax records, partisan commentary, and the newspaper?s history of negative editorials against him.

D. Harm

  • Claims include:
    • Business losses: harm to the Trump brand, properties, and ventures like Truth Social.
    • Reputational damage: humiliation, ridicule, diminished standing.
    • Political harm: attempted sabotage of 2024 presidential campaign.

VI. Legal Causes of Action

The complaint asserts two defamation counts:

  1. Count I ? Defamation Per Se
  • Defendants published unprivileged, false, defamatory statements with knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard.
  • Statements harmed Trump?s reputation, business, and political prospects.
  1. Count II ? Defamation Per Quod
  • Additional defamatory statements that require context to show their harmful meaning.
  • Alleged negligence, actual malice, and bad faith; intended to cause reputational and business injury.

VII. Damages and Relief Requested

  • Compensatory damages of not less than \$15 billion.
  • Punitive damages to be determined at trial.
  • Costs of litigation and other relief the court deems proper.
  • Formal demand for jury trial.

VIII. Overall Framing

The complaint presents itself as part of Trump?s larger effort to ?hold legacy media accountable.? It draws parallels to Trump?s prior settlements with ABC and CBS, portraying those as precedent-setting victories. The filing casts the New York Times and Penguin as partisan actors engaged in deliberate election interference and reputational sabotage.

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