(WASHINGTON)— PEN America released this following statement in response to President Trump’s defamation lawsuit against publisher Penguin Random House and The New York Times, in which the president accused them of “spreading false and defamatory content” to damage his 2024 presidential candidacy. It follows other recent lawsuits and legal threats against the media, with the goal of chilling reporting that the administration deems unfavorable.
“President Trump’s defamation lawsuit against Penguin Random House and The New York Times—and by extension against a free and independent press—underscores his dangerous pattern of seeking to punish any publisher that questions his narrative in hopes of draining financial resources, instilling fear, and deterring coverage he doesn’t like. This latest lawsuit is striking in its hypocrisy, and continues the broader goal of creating a climate of fear and retaliation while claiming to champion free speech. The president has assumed the role of policing the press, working to cancel truthful reporting while casting himself as the victim,” said Tim Richardson, program director for Journalism and Disinformation. “This kind of weaponized litigation not only threatens an independent press but also erodes the foundation of the First Amendment. We stand firmly with the reporters and publishers that continue to hold our elected leaders accountable in defense of free expression, even in the face of escalating threats and retaliation.”
President Trump filed the $15 billion defamation lawsuit this week against The New York Times, four of its reporters, and Penguin Random House, claiming their articles and a book were published with “actual malice” to damage his business, political standing, and 2024 presidential candidacy. The suit alleges the reporting was timed to inflict “maximum electoral damage” and caused him “enormous” financial and reputational harm.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], 201-247-5057