U.S. President Donald J. Trump said Thursday that he will pursue legal action against The New York Times, targeting the newspaper over the publication of an opinion poll he strongly criticised as biased and damaging to his public standing. The announcement marks the latest chapter in Trump’s ongoing and increasingly combative relationship with major news outlets.
Trump’s comments came in response to a recently published Times/Siena College poll showing his approval rating at around 40 per cent, a figure he described as “unfavourable” and “fake.” He made his remarks in a series of posts on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he framed the poll as part of a broader pattern of media bias.
In his statements, Trump said the Times/Siena Poll will be incorporated into his existing legal actions against The New York Times, which he often refers to dismissively as “The Failing New York Times.” He pledged to hold the newspaper accountable for what he characterised as misleading reporting.
“The Times Siena Poll…will be added to my lawsuit against The Failing New York Times. They will be held fully responsible for all of their Radical Left lies and wrongdoing!” Trump wrote, attacking the credibility of both the poll and the news organisation.
Trump’s stance reflects his fierce and ongoing criticism of polls and media groups that show results he perceives as unfavourable or politically motivated. In subsequent posts, he went further, arguing that so-called “fake and fraudulent polling” should be treated as a criminal offence.
Beyond the lawsuit expansion, Trump has used his social posts to question the integrity of the polling process itself, alleging the Times/Siena results were politically skewed. He insisted his legal team has demanded that the newspaper preserve all related records concerning how the poll was constructed.
“Our lawyers have demanded that they keep all records, and how they ‘computed’ these fake results, not just the fact that it was heavily skewed toward Democrats,” Trump wrote.
The President has repeatedly accused major U.S. media outlets of publishing problematic or “fake” polls that he says misrepresent his performance and the state of the country. He argued this alleged bias affects public perception and called for sanctions against news organisations engaged in such practices.
Trump’s threat against The New York Times follows a pattern of legal confrontations with the media. In 2025 he filed a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against the paper, a complaint that drew widespread attention and legal scrutiny. Although that earlier suit was dismissed by a federal judge for technical reasons, Trump has continued to pursue legal avenues and expand his accusations of media misconduct.
Legal analysts have noted that defamation suits against news organisations in the U.S. face high barriers due to First Amendment protections and the need for plaintiffs, especially public figures, to prove actual malice. But Trump’s continued legal pressure underscores his broader strategy of challenging institutions he views as adversarial.
The President’s comments immediately drew reactions from journalists, legal experts and civil liberties advocates, many of whom view attempts to sue news media over polling and critical coverage as threatening press freedom. Critics argue that polls and opinion research, even when unfavourable, are foundational elements of democratic discourse and public accountability, protected under U.S. law.
Meanwhile, Trump’s supporters have largely embraced his criticism of mainstream media, viewing his legal actions as a defensive stance against what they consider persistent bias and unfair treatment.
As the dispute over the poll and potential lawsuit unfolds, questions remain about the legal viability of Trump’s claims and the broader implications for media institutions and public trust in polling data ahead of future elections.
