President Donald Trump has initiated a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, four of its journalists, and Penguin Random House. The lawsuit was filed on Monday in the U.S. District Court in Florida. It claims that several articles and a book published by the defendants have caused significant harm to Trump's personal and business reputation.

The lawsuit alleges that the publications are part of a long-standing pattern of intentional and malicious defamation against Trump. It specifically cites articles and an editorial that questioned his fitness for office, as well as the book titled "Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success."

According to the court documents, the defendants published these materials with "knowledge of the falsity of the statements, and/or with reckless disregard of their truth or falsity." Trump's legal team argues that the publications have inflicted severe economic damage on his brand and future financial prospects, including a decline in the stock price of Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG).

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump accused The New York Times of lying about him and his family, stating that the paper has become a "virtual 'mouthpiece' for the Radical Left Democrat Party." He emphasized the lawsuit as a significant step in his ongoing battle against media outlets, having previously filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch.

The New York Times and Penguin Random House have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit. Trump's legal actions against media companies have intensified, reflecting his ongoing grievances with coverage of his personal and political life.