U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the newspaper of conducting a “decades-long campaign of lies” against him, his family, and his political movement.

In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump described the publication as “one of the most degenerate newspapers in the history of our country” and alleged that it had become a “mouthpiece for the radical Left Democrat Party.” He further claimed the Times’ coverage, including its endorsement of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, amounted to an “illegal campaign contribution.”

Trump said the lawsuit, filed in Florida, seeks to hold the outlet accountable for what he described as systematic efforts to damage his reputation and misrepresent the America First and MAGA movements. He also cited earlier settlements with major broadcasters, including ABC and CBS parent company Paramount, which agreed to multi-million-dollar donations to the planned Trump Library after disputes over their reporting.

“The New York Times has been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long, and that stops now,” Trump declared, stressing that this lawsuit is part of his broader effort to challenge what he labels “fake news networks.”

The lawsuit comes as Trump intensifies his campaign rhetoric ahead of the 2024 election cycle, frequently clashing with mainstream media outlets he accuses of political bias. Legal experts note that defamation cases involving public figures face high thresholds of proof, requiring plaintiffs to demonstrate actual malice.

The New York Times has not yet issued a formal response to the lawsuit.