WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Donald Trump is suing The New York Times for 15-billion dollars. He claims the paper and some of their reporters are trying to tear down the President’s success and claims they were trying to manipulate public opinion of Trump during the presidential election.  

In an 85 page complaint, it said some of the Times reporting and books were published as an attempt to undermine Trump during the height of a presidential election. In the lawsuit, it claims they have a desire for President Trump to fail politically and financially. At one point it stated: “Put bluntly, defendants baselessly hate President Trump in a deranged way.” 

According to an article by the Times, a spokesman for the Times said in part: “This lawsuit has no merit. It lacks any legitimate claims and instead is an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting.” 

“The latest lawsuit is straight out of Trump’s playbook of trying to use the legal system to try to intimidate the press,” said Caitlin Vogues, senior advisor for advocacy for the Freedom of the Press Foundation. “We’ve seen him sue ABC, CBS, he’s sued the Des Moines Register and now he’s sued the Times. This is something he has done over and over again anytime he is confronted with independent reporting that he doesn’t like.” 

Trump has often criticized the press. On Tuesday, when responding to a question about the Attorney General going after hate speech, the President suggested his administration might prosecute journalists.  

“She’ll [Attorney General Pam Bondi] probably go after people like you because you treat me so unfairly,” said the President. “It's hate.” 

Dr. Todd Belt, a professor and director of political management at George Washington University, said a chilling effect has already started after lawsuits with other news outlets were settled out of court.  

“It’s really concerning whenever the government goes after the mass media and the press because they’re the ones before they’re supposed to inform the public and if they’re afraid of the government then we won’t be getting all of the information we need in order to hold our public officials accountable,” said Dr. Belt. 

“A free and independent press is so essential to us,” said Vogues. “Journalism is where people can get answers about what their elected officials are up to.”