Juliet Huddy and Donald J. Trump
This profile summarises publicly-reported allegations made by Juliet Huddy concerning Donald J. Trump. It uses reputable reporting, including live and archived sources. Allegations are not criminal findings; where responses or denials exist, they are included.
Last updated: 20 November 2025
Summary
Juliet Huddy, a former news-anchor and radio-host, alleges that Donald J. Trump attempted to kiss her on the lips in an elevator at the Trump Tower in New York after a lunch in 2005 or 2006. Huddy says a security guard was present, and although she did not feel threatened, the moment was “weird” and unexpected. The allegation emerged publicly in December 2017. Trump’s campaign has denied the allegation as part of broader denials of historical misconduct. No civil or criminal suit by Huddy has been reported as of November 2025.
Key Facts
• Alleged incident: 2005-2006 (after January 2005) – lunch at Trump Tower in New York, followed by elevator goodbye where Trump allegedly leaned in for a kiss on the lips rather than a cheek.
• Public disclosure: December 8-10, 2017 – Huddy appeared on a radio show/public interview recounting the incident.
• Alleged behaviour: The claim is Trump attempted a lip-kiss goodbye in an elevator while his security guard stood by, rather than greeting with the cheek.
• Trump’s response: No specific detailed rebuttal publicly cited; the campaign broadly denies allegations of this type.
• Legal action: None filed by Huddy as of November 2025.
Explanation:
These facts capture the essence of the allegation: the time and setting, the nature of the behaviour, the date it became public, the accused’s response, and the absence of legal proceedings. They give readers a quick overview of the claim’s status.
Timeline
2005-2006 – Huddy alleges that she and Trump had a working lunch at Trump Tower. Following the lunch, as they said goodbye in an elevator, Trump’s security guard accompanied them. Huddy says that rather than a handshake or a kiss on the cheek, Trump leaned in for a kiss on the lips. She says she felt startled, though not threatened, and that she was “never alone” with him again after.
8 December 2017 – Huddy’s allegation became widely reported after she appeared on radio and told the story publicly. The initial mainstream report described her account of the elevator incident and quoted her saying she didn’t feel threatened but found the behaviour strange.
10 December 2017 and onward – International outlets reproduced the story. The incident has since been included in lists/timelines of allegations against Trump. No public court filings associated with this claim have appeared since.
2018–2025 – The claim continues to be referenced in media summaries, but there is no known litigation or adjudication related to this specific allegation by Huddy.
Media Coverage
Multiple credible outlets reported Huddy’s claim. For instance, The Independent ran an article on 10 December 2017 in which Huddy said the elevator incident occurred, and that Trump joked about it later. Newsweek published a detailed piece on 8 December 2017 summarising her account and placing it in context of other allegations. The Hollywood Reporter, Times of Israel and other media also referenced the claim. While Huddy’s allegation did not result in legal action, it has been treated by the press as part of a broader pattern of Pageant- or media-figure-related claims against Trump.
Responses and Statements
Donald J. Trump / Campaign: While there is no specific publicly-reported detailed rebuttal by Trump of Huddy’s claim, his campaign has denied the broader set of misconduct allegations made by women from pageants or media settings, contending many are fabricated or politically motivated.
Juliet Huddy: She has said she didn’t feel threatened by the incident but found the behaviour wrong and surprising. She noted that, in hindsight, she might have responded differently and that she decided to speak out in 2017 to ensure the story was part of the public record.
Context and Considerations
Huddy’s allegation should be read alongside other accounts of alleged inappropriate behaviour by Trump in media, modelling, pageant or business-related settings in the 1990s-2000s. The power dynamics in such settings — a prominent media figure interacting with an extremely wealthy, influential individual — are relevant to interpreting the claim. The absence of a court case or contemporaneous documentation limits independent verification. However, because many such claims share similar features (elevator/lift moment, photo-op or lunch meeting, surprise conduct), Huddy’s account contributes to broader public-interest concerns about environment, consent and influence.
It is also relevant that Huddy stated that she did not feel threatened and that Trump made no further advances — this distinguishes her account from some other allegations. Importantly, the date of the incident (2005/2006) places it shortly after Trump’s marriage to Melania Trump, which some media flagged. Any reader should recognise the claim remains unadjudicated, based solely on Huddy’s recollection and publicly-reported media interviews.
Conclusion
Juliet Huddy alleges that Donald J. Trump attempted to kiss her on the lips in an elevator at Trump Tower after a lunch around 2005-2006. She went public in December 2017 and has maintained the claim. Trump denies wrongdoing and no legal claim has been filed. While Huddy’s allegation has not been tested in court, it remains part of the public media record of alleged misconduct by Trump during this era. The case underscores themes of power, workplace dynamics, consent and how media figures may respond to unexpected behaviour from influential persons.
Sources
Newsweek – “President Trump Tried to Kiss Another Woman Around the Time He Married Melania”
Hollywood Reporter – “Former Fox News Anchor Juliet Huddy Says Trump Once Tried to Kiss Her”