New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman has described President Donald Trump’s $15 billion lawsuit against the publication as a “bullying campaign.”

In a July 29, 2026 interview with host Michael Steele, Haberman discussed how she and her colleagues endure pressure from the Trump administration, including calls from Trump himself attempting to influence coverage by asking reporters to drop stories.

Haberman characterized these efforts as part of a broader pattern of intimidation tactics employed by Trump to target institutions he opposes. She noted that this includes both public lawsuits and private legal actions, citing examples such as Trump’s lawsuits against the Wall Street Journal over its coverage of the Epstein files, and Harvard University, which he also threatened by seeking to revoke its tax-exempt status.

Although Haberman is not named as a defendant in the New York Times lawsuit, Trump stated in July that she would “pay the price when the lawsuit gets to court.” Despite this, Haberman affirmed her commitment to journalistic integrity, saying, “I will continue to report the truth, and we will continue to do our jobs.”

The lawsuit against the New York Times alleges defamation, according to reports.

Sources