Donald Trump loses to New York Times in lawsuit over Pulitzer-winning report on his taxes

A US judge has dismissed Donald Trump’s $100 million lawsuit against The New York Times and its reporters over an award-winning 2018 exposé on his taxes.

New York State Supreme Court Justice Robert Reed threw out the case in a ruling that also ordered the former president to pay the news outlet’s lawyer fees and costs.

“Courts have long recognised that reporters are entitled to engage in legal and ordinary newsgathering activities without fear of tort liability — as these actions are at the very corner of protected First Amendment activity,” Mr Reed said in his ruling.

The Times report, which won a Pulitzer Prize, detailed how Mr Trump’s real estate business claimed suspiciously low valuations on properties to minimise tax liability and also revealed that his inheritance from his father was worth more than $400 million, contrary to his frequent assertion that he only received a small loan of about $1 million.

“The New York Times is pleased with the judge's decision today,” representative Charlie Stadtlander said in a statement.

“It is an important precedent reaffirming that the press is protected when it engages in routine newsgathering to obtain information of vital importance to the public.”

Mr Trump had also accused his niece, Mary Trump, of violating a confidentiality agreement by acting as a source for the Times report — and alleged that the newspaper assisted her in that breach of confidence.

The judge said the reporters were simply reporting on a matter of great public interest.

Ms Trump’s request for dismissal from the case is still pending.

The judge rejected Mr Trump’s argument that a Times reporter broke the law by enticing Ms Trump to “pilfer documents” held by her lawyer. Mr Reed concluded that Ms Trump was a valid owner of the files and that her lawyer gave her permission to take them.

The former president “does not cite a single case where any court, whether state or federal, has held that a reporter is liable for inducing his or her source to breach of confidentiality provision”, the judge said.

Trump lawyer Alina Habba said in a statement that all journalists “must be held accountable” for civil breaches.

“The New York Times is no different and its reporters went well beyond the conventional news gathering techniques permitted by the First Amendment,” Ms Habba said.

“In light of the court’s decision, we will weigh our client’s options and continue to vigorously fight on his behalf.”

Donald Trump's tax returns, pictured in December 2022 after they were released by the House Ways and Means Committee. EPA

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What: Brazil v South Korea
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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