Cathy Heller and Donald J. Trump

This profile summarises publicly reported allegations made by Cathy Heller concerning Donald J. Trump. It cites reputable reporting and public records. Allegations are not criminal findings, and where responses exist, they are included.

Last updated: November 19, 2025

Summary

Cathy Heller alleges that Donald J. Trump grabbed her and attempted to kiss her on the mouth without consent during a Mother’s Day brunch at Mar-a-Lago in the late 1990s. Heller places the incident at around 1997. She first spoke publicly in October 2016, saying the encounter had stayed with her for years but that she never expected it would become part of a presidential campaign. According to her account, she was introduced to Trump at the event, at which point he took her hand, pulled her toward him and tried to kiss her despite her resistance.

Heller has said that the incident felt abrupt, invasive, and disrespectful, and that she turned her head to avoid being kissed directly on the lips. She recalls feeling both shocked and angry, particularly because the event was a family occasion attended by her children and her in-laws. In later reporting, family members who were present have been described as corroborating that she immediately complained about Trump’s behaviour after he left the table and that they understood her to be upset by what had happened.

The allegation emerged during the 2016 presidential race, in the same period that the “Access Hollywood” recording was released and several other women came forward with allegations of unwanted kissing or groping. Heller’s description of Trump “grabbing” her and “going for the lips” was widely reported and has been cited as consistent with patterns described by other accusers. News coverage often placed her account within a broader list of women alleging similar conduct over several decades.

Trump’s campaign denied Heller’s allegation, as it did with other allegations reported at the time. Campaign statements characterised the claims as false, politically motivated and part of a coordinated effort to damage his candidacy. Spokespeople pointed to the timing of the accounts, coming close to the 2016 election, as evidence that they should not be believed.

No criminal complaint or civil lawsuit has been filed in relation to Heller’s allegation, and no court has weighed the claim under formal evidentiary standards. There is therefore no judicial finding either confirming or rejecting her account. Nonetheless, her allegation continues to appear in timelines, factboxes, and background pieces on misconduct claims involving Trump. Heller has said she chose to speak out to add her voice to a wider pattern she believed the public should understand, and she has not retracted or altered her account in subsequent interviews.

Key Facts at a Glance

  • Alleged incident: Around 1997, during a Mother’s Day brunch at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.
  • Public disclosure: October 2016, in interviews and national reporting.
  • Alleged behaviour: Heller says Trump took her hand, pulled her close, and tried to kiss her on the mouth; she turned her head, so the kiss landed partly on the side of her face.
  • Corroboration cited in reporting: Family members present at the brunch have been reported as confirming that Heller described the incident to them immediately afterwards.
  • Trump campaign response: Denied the allegation and grouped it with other accusations described as false and politically motivated.
  • Legal action: As of November 2025, no criminal charges, civil claims, or official investigations specific to this allegation have been reported.

Timeline

~1997
Cathy Heller attends a Mother’s Day brunch at Mar-a-Lago with her husband, children, and in-laws. Her in-laws are members of the club, and they introduce her to Donald Trump as he greets guests. Heller says that when she extended her hand to greet him, he took it, pulled her toward him, and tried to kiss her on the mouth. She turns her head away, and the kiss lands partly on the side of her face. She later recalls feeling off balance and shaken by the encounter, and says she immediately tells her family what happened.

October 2016
In the context of the 2016 presidential campaign and renewed attention to Trump’s behaviour around women after the “Access Hollywood” tape, Heller decides to speak publicly. Her account is first reported in national media, describing the brunch setting, her family’s presence, and her memory of Trump’s words and actions. Coverage notes that she had spoken about the incident with relatives long before the campaign.

Mid–October 2016
Additional outlets, including national newspapers, wire services, television networks and magazines, report Heller’s allegation. Articles describe the corroboration provided by family members who say they witnessed the interaction or recall Heller’s immediate reaction and complaint. Factbox-style pieces on Trump accusers summarise her account and place it among a growing list of similar allegations.

October 2016 onward
The Trump campaign issues responses denying Heller’s account and similar allegations. Statements argue that the claims are fabricated, politically motivated, or part of a coordinated narrative designed to damage Trump’s electoral prospects. Heller, for her part, repeats her description of the event and emphasises that she had told the story within her family for years before going to the press.

2017–2025
Heller’s allegation continues to be referenced in major outlets’ roundups and backgrounders on allegations against Trump. Public records indicate no legal action based on her claim. There is no reported new physical evidence, but neither Heller nor the Trump side substantially change their public positions: she maintains that the incident occurred as she described it, while Trump and his representatives continue to deny misconduct.

Media Coverage and Documentation

  • The Guardian — reporting on Heller’s allegation (Oct 15, 2016) — The Guardian
  • Reuters — Factbox summary including Heller (Dec 11, 2017) — Reuters
  • ABC News — Accuser list entry (Updated 2020) — ABC News
  • Washington Post — Corroboration roundup (Oct 24, 2016) — Washington Post
  • Palm Beach Post — Local coverage (Oct 15, 2016) — Palm Beach Post
  • People — Interview and follow-up reporting (Oct 16, 2016) — People
  • PBS NewsHour — Recap of allegations (2019) — PBS

Responses and Statements

Donald J. Trump:
Trump’s 2016 campaign denied Heller’s allegation and broadly rejected similar accusations from other women as false and politically motivated.

Cathy Heller:
Heller has reiterated her account in interviews since 2016, saying she spoke publicly after hearing other women’s experiences and after seeing Trump deny that he had kissed women without consent.

Sources

(All links verified live as of November 19, 2025.)