Overview
- In a late-night Truth Social post, President Donald Trump labeled the New York Times “a serious threat to the National Security of our Nation” and “a true enemy of the people.”
- Trump claimed the Times publishes “lies and purposeful misrepresentations” and wrote that it “must be dealt with and stopped.”
- The post comes after the Times published a report on Trump’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein that said no one interviewed accused Trump of inappropriate behavior, while one victim described being coerced into parties Epstein hosted.
- Trump filed a $15 billion defamation suit against the Times in October in federal court in Florida, following an earlier September suit that Chief Judge Steven Merryday dismissed as improper.
- A Times spokesperson welcomed the dismissal as recognizing the complaint as political, and coverage notes Trump has pursued other media actions, including reported $16 million settlements with CBS and ABC.