How many women have publicly accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct and what are the core allegations in each case?

1. Who is included in the count — headline numbers and their provenance

Media tallies vary but converge: Axios reported "one of roughly 27 women" accusing Trump when Stacey Williams went public in late 2024 ^[1]. The Guardian and other outlets have published timelines and lists that compile allegations stretching back decades, and books such as All the President’s Women catalog even more incidents — for example, 26 incidents of "unwanted sexual contact" and dozens of inappropriate behaviors documented in that reporting ^{[2] [6]}. Different tallies reflect editorial choices about whether to count allegations that were civil suits, dismissed filings, anonymous claims, or reports from books and interviews ^{[2] [6]}.

2. The E. Jean Carroll case — the central legal milestone

E. Jean Carroll alleged Trump sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room in the mid‑1990s; after Carroll sued for defamation and later under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, a New York jury in May 2023 found Trump liable for sexual abuse (but not rape) and defamation, awarding $5 million; appeals and additional related judgments have continued through 2024–2025 ^{[5] [4] [3]}. Courts allowed evidence of other accusers and the "Access Hollywood" tape to be considered as part of pattern arguments in that litigation ^{[4] [5]}.

3. Types of allegations across the roster — common themes

Reporting describes allegations that range from alleged groping, unwanted kissing, and forcible touching to claims of attempted rape and sexual assault. Several women describe being groped at social events, in VIP areas at sporting events, or in private encounters; accounts also include claims that Trump pressured or pursued women after rebuffs ^{[2] [7] [8]}. Journalistic compilations emphasize a recurring pattern in alleged behavior — unwanted sexual touching and aggressive advances — though the specifics differ by accuser and incident ^{[2] [8]}.

4. Civil suits, dismissed filings and contested claims — what the record shows

Some accusations resulted in litigation (e.g., Jill Harth’s 1997 suit that was later dropped after settlements elsewhere; E. Jean Carroll’s successful civil finding), while other claims appeared in books, interviews, or news reports without criminal charges or with lawsuits that were dismissed or withdrawn ^{[7] [9] [4]}. Newsweek and other outlets note that some legal filings were dismissed or withdrawn and that social-media recirculation of old court paperwork has occurred, particularly when related documents are unsealed ^[9].

5. Denials, defenses and political context

Trump and his spokespeople have repeatedly denied the accusations, calling them politically motivated or untrue; White House spokespeople earlier framed many accusers as lying while Trump himself has denied specific incidents ^{[2] [3]}. Coverage highlights the interplay between allegations, litigation, and politics — for example, the Access Hollywood tape renewed scrutiny and became part of legal and public pattern arguments ^{[5] [4]}.

6. Limitations in available reporting and what is not asserted

Available sources do not present a single definitive list universally agreed on by all news organizations; counts differ by outlet depending on inclusion criteria ^{[1] [6]}. Available sources do not provide full contemporaneous records for every alleged incident (some come from books or later interviews) and do not show criminal convictions of Trump for these allegations apart from the civil finding in Carroll’s case ^{[5] [4]}. If you want, I can compile the names and short allegation summaries for each woman reported in a particular source (e.g., The Guardian’s timeline or Axios’s list) — tell me which source you prefer for that granular list.