Former President Donald Trump has escalated his ongoing conflict with mainstream media by announcing impending legal action against The New York Times. The controversy stems from a recently published opinion poll conducted jointly by the newspaper and Siena University, which reported a mere 40% approval rating for the 79-year-old Republican leader.
Through his Truth Social platform, Trump declared the poll would be incorporated into an existing lawsuit against the publication, accusing the Times of disseminating ‘Radical Left lies and wrongdoing.’ He further intensified his rhetoric by suggesting that ‘fake and fraudulent polling should, virtually, be a criminal offence.’
This development represents the latest chapter in Trump’s extensive history of legal confrontations with media organizations. Previous targets have included major networks such as CNN, CBS, ABC, and international broadcaster BBC, several of which resulted in multimillion-dollar settlements.
The current legal battle originated in September 2025 when Trump filed a $15 billion defamation suit against The New York Times, alleging the publication intentionally ran false stories to damage his 2024 presidential campaign and personal reputation. Although initially dismissed by a federal judge, the lawsuit was refiled in amended form the following month.
The Times/Siena poll, widely regarded as one of America’s most accurate political surveys, indicates significant erosion in Trump’s support base. Particularly concerning for the former president is the apparent dissolution of his 2024 coalition, with young and non-white voters who previously supported him abandoning his camp, leaving primarily older white voters as his core constituency.
The newspaper defended its reporting practices, characterizing Trump’s legal actions as ‘an attempt to stifle independent reporting’ and ‘intimidation tactics.’ The poll findings align with multiple other surveys showing declining public approval of Trump’s handling of economic issues and his administration’s military-style crackdown on illegal immigration.