Jennifer Murphy and Donald J. Trump
This profile summarises publicly reported allegations made by Jennifer Murphy concerning Donald J. Trump. It is based on credible journalism and publicly available interviews. Allegations are not criminal findings; where responses or denials exist, they are included.
Last updated: 20 November 2025
Summary
Jennifer Murphy, a former contestant on The Apprentice, alleges that Donald J. Trump kissed her on the lips without her consent after a job interview at Trump Tower in 2005. Murphy had competed on Season 4 of Trump’s reality television series and met with Trump for a follow-up meeting regarding potential future work. She alleges that as the meeting concluded, Trump unexpectedly kissed her on the lips in what she describes as a surprising but non-threatening moment.
Murphy publicly disclosed the allegation in October 2016, first in an interview with Grazia and then in a more widely circulated interview with NBC News. She emphasised that she did not feel assaulted and did not consider herself a victim, but still confirmed that the kiss was unsolicited. Trump’s campaign denied wrongdoing and grouped her account with other allegations they characterised as fabricated. No legal action has been taken, and the allegation has not been adjudicated in court.
Key Facts
• Alleged incident:
2005, at Trump Tower in New York, following a job-related meeting after Murphy’s appearance on The Apprentice.
• Public disclosure:
14 October 2016 through interviews published in Grazia and NBC News.
• Nature of allegation:
An unsolicited kiss on the lips during a goodbye moment after the meeting. Murphy has said she did not feel threatened and did not interpret the incident as assault, but confirmed it was unexpected and without prior indication.
• Trump’s response:
Trump’s campaign denied the allegation, issuing broad denials of all misconduct accusations during the 2016 campaign. No personal or specific rebuttal beyond general denials was widely reported.
• Legal action:
No civil or criminal complaint filed as of 20 November 2025.
Explanation:
These key facts outline the setting, behaviour described, context of disclosure, response from Trump’s campaign, and the absence of legal proceedings. The allegation sits among accounts from others who interacted with Trump in professional or entertainment settings but differs in tone because Murphy emphasised she did not feel victimised.
Timeline
2005 – Alleged incident at Trump Tower
Murphy, having competed on The Apprentice, travelled to Trump Tower for a post-show meeting about potential opportunities. According to her account, the meeting was positive and professional. As she prepared to leave, Trump allegedly leaned in and kissed her on the lips instead of offering a handshake or a cheek kiss. Murphy later said she was surprised and thought the gesture was inappropriate but did not feel unsafe. She reported no further advances and said the moment ended quickly.
14 October 2016 – Public disclosure in media interviews
Murphy’s account was first widely reported in October 2016, when she spoke to NBC News about the incident. She also gave comments to Grazia, describing the kiss as unexpected but emphasising that she did not feel threatened. Her account surfaced amid a wave of reporting on allegations made by multiple women during the 2016 presidential campaign.
15 October 2016 onward – National and international coverage
Major outlets including The Guardian, ABC News and Reuters reported Murphy’s statement as part of broader roundups of allegations involving Trump. Coverage typically quoted Murphy’s claim and her clarification that she did not consider herself a victim of sexual assault. Many outlets highlighted this distinction to contrast her account with more serious allegations reported by others.
2017–2025 – Continued mention in timelines
Murphy’s allegation continues to appear in updated lists and retrospectives summarising public claims made about Trump’s behaviour from the mid-1980s to early 2010s. No retractions, legal filings or additional details have been reported from Murphy since 2016, and the claim remains untested in any formal venue.
Media Coverage
NBC News provided one of the most detailed early accounts of Murphy’s allegation, quoting her confirmation that Trump kissed her without warning but also quoting her insistence that she did not feel violated. The Guardian included her among its lists of women who had made allegations of misconduct against Trump, summarising her description of the kiss and noting her perspective that Trump did not behave aggressively.
ABC News’ updates on the various accusers consistently include Murphy’s allegation, presenting it as one of the less severe but still non-consensual encounters described by women who had interacted with Trump in professional contexts. Reuters provided additional reporting in 2022, incorporating her account into a broader factbox summarising women who have alleged inappropriate conduct.
Across outlets, the coverage emphasised that although Murphy’s claim involved unwanted contact, she presented it differently from individuals who alleged assault. This made her account distinct in tone while still contributing to the larger pattern described in reporting.
Responses and Statements
Donald J. Trump / Campaign
The Trump campaign in 2016 issued broad denials regarding all allegations of sexual misconduct, including Murphy’s. Trump did not publicly address her account in detail but continued to assert that all allegations were false and politically motivated. No litigation was initiated by Trump in response to Murphy’s statements.
Jennifer Murphy
Murphy confirmed her allegation repeatedly in interviews but made clear that she did not feel assaulted and “did not feel like a victim.” She described the kiss as inappropriate but not coercive, and said she spoke out primarily for transparency as other women began publicly recounting their interactions with Trump. In her comments to NBC News, she characterised the incident as a surprise rather than an act of aggression.
Context and Considerations
Murphy’s allegation is one of several involving unsolicited kissing or attempted kissing by Trump in professional settings during the early 2000s. Her account is unique in its framing: while confirming the behaviour occurred, she emphasised a lack of fear or perceived threat. Her comments add nuance to the wider body of allegations by showing a range of experiences among individuals who interacted with Trump.
Like many events described from 2005 and earlier, the claim lacks contemporaneous documentation, which limits independent verification. Its public significance stems from its emergence during a period of heightened scrutiny in 2016, when many women were stepping forward. Although Murphy’s allegation did not form the basis of legal action, it remains part of the public historical record and contributes to the debate around professional boundaries and power dynamics.
Conclusion
Jennifer Murphy alleges that Donald J. Trump kissed her on the lips without consent following a 2005 meeting at Trump Tower. She publicly confirmed the incident in 2016 but emphasised she did not feel threatened or consider herself a victim. Trump’s campaign denied wrongdoing, and no legal action has been pursued. While the claim remains unadjudicated, it occupies a place within the broader set of allegations that arose during the 2016 election cycle and remains relevant to discussions of power, professional conduct and consent.
Sources
- People – Donald Trump’s Fixation with Former The Apprentice Contestant Jennifer Murphy
- The Independent – Donald Trump kissed me during a job interview