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Rape

Rape Allegations Against Donald J. Trump (2025 Update)

Donald J. Trump, sworn in as the 47th U.S. President on January 20, 2025, and previously serving from 2017 to 2021, faces multiple rape and sexual misconduct allegations spanning decades. Over 26 women have publicly accused Trump of various forms of sexual abuse. Trump consistently denies all allegations, calling them “false” and “politically motivated.”

Ivana Trump’s 1989 Allegation

Ivana Trump, Donald Trump’s first wife (married 1977–1992), alleged in a 1990 divorce deposition that Trump raped her in 1989 at their New York home. The incident allegedly followed a dispute over a scalp surgery she had recommended. In Lost Tycoon (1993), Ivana described a violent assault where Trump tore her clothes and forced himself on her.

In 1993, Ivana issued a statement clarifying she did not mean “rape” in a legal sense but described feeling emotionally violated—a retraction some link to their divorce settlement. Trump’s attorney, Michael Cohen, denied the incident in 2015, claiming that under New York law, a spouse cannot be legally raped—a claim factually incorrect since 1984.

E. Jean Carroll’s 1995-1996 Rape Claim

Writer E. Jean Carroll accused Trump in June 2019 of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in Manhattan between late 1995 and early 1996. Carroll alleges Trump lured her into the room, slammed her against a wall, and forced penetration despite her resistance.

Carroll preserved a dress containing Trump’s DNA and publicly shared her story in New York Magazine (June 21, 2019). Trump denied knowing her and disparaged her appearance, despite a 1987 photo showing them together.

Carroll filed a defamation suit in November 2022 (Carroll v. Trump) and later added a battery claim under New York’s Adult Survivors Act. On May 9, 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding $5 million. A defamation trial in January 2024 added $83.3 million in damages, upheld as of March 2025, with a $91.6 million bond posted.

Other Sexual Misconduct Accusations

Many women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct, including groping and unwanted advances. Notable cases include:

  • Jill Harth (1993, attempted rape, settled out of court)

  • Jessica Leeds (1980s, groping on a flight)

  • Summer Zervos (2007, groping, defamation suit dropped)

Over 20 additional women, including pageant contestants and campaign staff, have made similar allegations often linked to Trump’s business or media roles. Trump dismisses these claims as “publicity stunts” and “election interference,” a narrative echoed by supporters on social media in 2025.

Legal and Public Status in 2025

As of March 9, 2025, Trump maintains his innocence while serving his second term. Carroll’s lawsuits remain the most prominent. Her $83.3 million award faces appeals, and a February 14, 2025, motion to depose Trump regarding Truth Social posts was denied pending review.

Ivana Trump’s claim, never litigated, resurfaced in a 2025 article linking it to the #MeToo movement. Other lawsuits, like Zervos v. Trump, stalled or dropped due to immunity, statutes of limitation, or settlements. The Department of Justice currently follows policy not to investigate sitting presidents criminally.

Public opinion remains divided. Polls show 62% doubt accusers, while advocacy groups like RAINN continue to cite these cases in discussions of Trump’s character and accountability.