Trump Organization Demands Retraction from New York Times Over Alleged False Article

The Trump Organization is demanding a retraction from the New York Times for an article it claims is libelous and misleading. The article suggests financial misconduct by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, according to a legal letter obtained by Fox News Digital.

The article in question, titled “Trump Cut a Billion-Dollar Mining Deal. His Sons Stand to Profit,” alleges that the Trump brothers and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s sons profited from a tungsten mining deal secured by President Donald Trump with Kazakhstan in September 2025.

Legal Response from Trump Organization

Alan Garten, an attorney for the Trump Organization, wrote to The Times, stating that the article is deceptive and falsely implies that Trump Jr. and Eric Trump influenced the decision to award the Kazakhstan tungsten mine project.

The letter is addressed to The Times’ editor-in-chief Joseph Kahn and the article’s authors, Eric Lipton and Paul Sonne. Garten states the reporting and interviews do not support the implication of the brothers’ involvement.

The Trump Organization claims the report inaccurately portrays the brothers as central figures in the deal.

A representative for the New York Times defended the article, maintaining that the primary point—that Eric and Donald Jr. benefited from the agreement—is unchallenged. The newspaper suggests the Trump Organization disputes the level of emphasis on the brothers being passive investors.

Trump Administration’s Strategic Move

Tungsten, essential for military equipment like missiles and fighter jets, is predominantly controlled by China, Russia, and North Korea. The Trump administration prioritized securing a domestic supply of the mineral, leading to the Kazakhstan deal.

The deal resulted from a meeting in September 2025 at the St. Regis Hotel in New York. President Trump participated by phone, and parties reached a verbal procurement agreement, formalized in November.

Investment Involvement and Reactions

The Trump brothers are minority shareholders in Dominari Holdings Inc., an investment firm connected to the deal. According to sources, Dominari Securities invested in a construction company, Skyline Builders, which later merged with Cove Capital, responsible for the tungsten mining project.

The Trump Organization letter asserts the brothers had no influence or negotiation role in the project. Furthermore, Cove Capital connected with Skyline a month after the agreement, and no direct communication with the Trump brothers occurred regarding the financing.

Call for Retraction

The Trump Organization accuses The Times of misleading readers and demands a retraction or correction. They insist on accurate reporting, highlighting the brothers’ lack of involvement.

In a related statement to Fox News Digital, the Trump Organization underscores the absence of the brothers’ control or influence in the deal. The White House affirmed that the administration’s focus remains on national interests.