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 the 45th from 2017 to 2021, has faced multiple allegations of rape and sexual misconduct spanning decades. These claims, numbering over 26 by various women (AP, Web ID: 11), include high-profile rape accusations detailed below. Trump has consistently denied all allegations, calling them “false” and “politically motivated” attempts to tarnish his reputation.

Ivana Trump (1989)

In a 1990 divorce deposition, Ivana Trump, Donald Trump’s first wife (married 1977–1992), alleged he raped her in 1989 at their New York home following an argument over a painful scalp surgery she’d recommended. She described a violent assault in the book Lost Tycoon by Harry Hurt III (1993), claiming Trump tore her clothes and forced himself on her (Web ID: 11). In 1993, Ivana clarified via a statement that she didn’t mean “rape” in a “literal or criminal sense,” but felt “violated” emotionally, a retraction some attribute to their divorce settlement (Web ID: 4). Trump’s attorney, Michael Cohen, denied the incident in 2015, arguing it’s legally impossible to rape a spouse—a claim false under New York law since 1984 (Web ID: 8).

E. Jean Carroll (1995 or 1996)

In June 2019, writer E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in Manhattan between late 1995 and early 1996. She alleges that after a chance meeting—where Trump asked her to try on lingerie—he lured her into the room, slammed her against a wall, and penetrated her despite her resistance (Web ID: 15). Carroll preserved a dress with DNA linked to Trump and went public in a New York Magazine excerpt (June 21, 2019). Trump denied knowing her, calling her “not my type,” despite a 1987 photo of them together (Web ID: 11). In November 2022, she filed a defamation suit (Carroll v. Trump, Case No. 22-cv-10016), later adding a battery claim under New York’s Adult Survivors Act. On May 9, 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse (not rape) and defamation, awarding $5M; a January 26, 2024, defamation trial added $83.3M, upheld as of March 2025 with a $91.6M bond posted (Web ID: 6).

Other Accusations

Beyond these rape-specific claims, numerous women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct, including groping and unwanted kissing. Notable cases include Jill Harth (1993, attempted rape settled out of court), Jessica Leeds (1980s, groping on a flight), and Summer Zervos (2007, groping leading to a dropped defamation suit) (Web ID: 11). Over 20 others—e.g., pageant contestants and campaign staff—allege similar acts, often tied to Trump’s business or media roles (Web ID: 15). Trump has dismissed these as “publicity stunts” or “election interference,” a view echoed on X in 2025 (Post ID: 2).

Legal and Public Status (2025)

As of March 9, 2025, Trump maintains his innocence amid his second presidency. Carroll’s cases remain the most adjudicated: her $83.3M award faces appeal, with a February 14, 2025, motion to depose Trump over Truth Social posts denied pending review (Web ID: 6). Ivana’s claim, never litigated, resurfaced in a March 5 Vox piece linking it to #MeToo (Web ID: 3). Other lawsuits (e.g., Zervos) stalled or dropped due to immunity, statutes of limitations, or settlements, with no active criminal probes per DOJ policy on sitting presidents (Web ID: 9). X polls (e.g., Post ID: 5, 62% doubting accusers) reflect polarized views, while advocacy groups like RAINN cite these cases in ongoing discussions of Trump’s character (Web ID: 3).