The New York Times

“We thank the jury for its service, but believe the verdict and award of damages are contrary to law and not supported by the evidence.”

The New York Times · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-21

The New York Times issued a statement disagreeing with the jury's verdict and damages award.

“Based on information from a person familiar with the case, the article erroneously identified that person as Kai Spears, a freshman basketball player. After the article was initially published, Alabama’s athletic director and Spears’s father denied that Spears was present. The Times included those responses and reviewed its reporting, but did not conclude that any other change to the article was warranted at that time.”

The New York Times · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21

The editor's note explained how Spears was erroneously identified as being present at the shooting scene despite denials from Alabama's athletic director and Spears's father.

“We’re disappointed the jury found The Times liable for an honest mistake,”

The New York Times · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-21

The New York Times issued a statement reacting to the jury's defamation verdict.

“had not lost a defamation lawsuit brought in the United States over one of its articles in more than 50 years.”

The New York Times · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-21

A New York Times article reported on the newspaper's legal history following the defamation verdict.

“On Wednesday, Spears filed a defamation suit against The Times that included new details about the incident. Based on that information, editors assigned further reporting, which determined that the other person at the scene was not Spears but Cooper Lee, a student manager for the team. The Times regrets the error in the initial report.”

The New York Times · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21

The editor's note stated that further reporting after Spears's lawsuit determined the person at the scene was actually Cooper Lee, a student manager, not Spears.

“The original version of this article, published March 15, misidentified the person who was in the car with [Crimson Tide star player] Brandon Miller when the shooting occurred,”

The New York Times · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21

This is from the editor's note The Times issued in June 2023 correcting its March 2023 article after Spears filed his defamation lawsuit.

“on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.”

The New York Times · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21

The New York Times described the conditions under which a source spoke about the fatal shooting.

“She is a platinum blonde geyser of positivity, there to buck him up when the going gets rough,”

The New York Times · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19

Description from the New York Times profile characterizing Harp's demeanor around Trump.

“She never takes a day off, not even on Sunday,”

The New York Times · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19

Opening line of a New York Times profile describing Natalie Harp's role as a White House aide.

“She works out of the Oval Office, and she’s got a regular seat on Marine One. She texts with world leaders on the president’s behalf. She stays up late with him drafting social media posts. She rarely speaks on camera, and yet she is never not there, ever-present with a wide smile and her eyes fixed on the president.”

The New York Times · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19

Passage from the New York Times profile detailing Harp's duties working alongside Trump.