Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault 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 over 26 allegations of sexual misconduct spanning the 1970s to 2019. These claims, ranging from unwanted advances to sexual assault and rape, have been leveled by women across various contexts—business, pageants, and campaigns. Trump has denied all accusations, often calling them “false” or “politically motivated” fabrications.

Notable Allegations

  • Jessica Leeds (mid-1980s): Alleged Trump groped her on a flight, touching her breasts and attempting to move his hand up her skirt. She spoke out in 2016 to The New York Times (Web ID: 8), prompting Trump to call her a liar at a rally.
  • Ivana Trump (1989): In a 1993 divorce deposition, she described a violent encounter as rape but later clarified it was not “criminal,” saying in 2015 she felt “violated” emotionally (Web ID: 11). Trump’s attorney denied any assault.
  • Jill Harth (1993): Claimed Trump cornered her at Mar-a-Lago, groping her and attempting rape during a business meeting. Her 1997 lawsuit was settled out of court; Trump dismissed it as meritless (Web ID: 4).
  • E. Jean Carroll (1995 or 1996): Alleged Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room. She detailed this in a 2019 book excerpt (New York Magazine), providing a dress with DNA linked to Trump (Web ID: 15). He denies knowing her, despite photos together.
  • Kristin Anderson (early 1990s): Accused Trump of sliding his hand under her skirt at a Manhattan nightclub, per The Washington Post (2016). Trump’s campaign called it “fiction” (Web ID: 7).
  • Summer Zervos (2007): Claimed Trump forcibly kissed and groped her at a Beverly Hills hotel during an Apprentice-related meeting. Her 2017 defamation suit stalled when Trump’s immunity as president was upheld; she dropped it in 2021 (Web ID: 13).
  • Alva Johnson (August 2016): Alleged Trump forcibly kissed her at a Tampa campaign rally while she worked as an outreach staffer. Her 2019 lawsuit was dismissed in 2020 for lacking evidence of racial bias, not the assault claim itself (Web ID: 9).
  • Ninni Laaksonen (2006): Former Miss Finland said Trump grabbed her buttocks before a Late Show taping. She spoke to Ilta-Sanomat in 2016; Trump’s team did not respond (Web ID: 3).
  • Temple Taggart (1997): Former Miss Utah claimed Trump kissed her on the lips twice without consent during Miss USA events. She detailed this to The New York Times (2016); Trump’s campaign ignored it (Web ID: 8).
  • Natasha Stoynoff (2005): People writer alleged Trump forcibly kissed her at Mar-a-Lago while she interviewed him. Six witnesses corroborated her 2016 account; Trump called it “fake news” (Web ID: 5).

Legal Actions and Responses

E. Jean Carroll Cases: In May 2023, a Manhattan jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in Carroll’s first civil suit, awarding $5M (Web ID: 15). A second defamation trial in January 2024 added $83.3M for his continued denials, upheld despite appeals as of March 2025 (Web ID: 6). Trump posted a $91.6M bond (Web ID: 11), claiming “election interference” on Truth Social (Post ID: 2).

Other Legal Outcomes: Summer Zervos’ defamation suit faltered due to presidential immunity (2017–2021), ending without resolution. Jill Harth’s 1997 case settled for an undisclosed sum. Alva Johnson’s suit was dismissed on procedural grounds. No criminal charges have resulted from these allegations, partly due to statutes of limitations or lack of corroboration deemed sufficient by courts.

Trump’s Defense: Trump has denied all claims, often attacking accusers’ credibility—e.g., calling Leeds “not my type” (2016 rally) or Carroll a “whack job” (2023 deposition, Web ID: 15). His team cites timing near elections (2016, 2024) as proof of political motives, a narrative echoed on X (Post ID: 4).

Access Hollywood Tape: A 2005 recording surfaced in October 2016 where Trump bragged about grabbing women “by the pussy” without consent (Web ID: 8). He dismissed it as “locker room talk,” but it bolstered accusers’ narratives, with 11 women coming forward post-tape (Web ID: 11).

Recent Developments (2025)

As of March 9, 2025, Trump’s second presidency has not faced new public allegations, but his January 20 inauguration revived scrutiny. On February 14, Carroll’s attorneys sought to depose him again over Truth Social posts (Web ID: 6), while a March 5 X poll by @EndWokeness (Post ID: 5) showed 62% of 1.2M respondents doubting the claims’ validity. No federal probes have resumed, per DOJ policy on sitting presidents (Web ID: 9).