Fact check: What other lawsuits or allegations have been made against Donald Trump related to his treatment of women?

1. How a High-Profile Verdict Changed the Legal Landscape

A federal appeals court recently rejected Donald Trump’s presidential-immunity defense and upheld an $83.3 million jury verdict in favor of E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of raping her and then defaming her when she went public; the court explicitly described his conduct as “remarkably high, perhaps unprecedented,” cementing a major legal defeat for Trump and clarifying limits on immunity for private conduct tied to official statements ^[1]. This ruling is legally significant because it both enforces a large damages award and establishes precedent that statements made outside of official duties can expose a president to civil liability, a point that reshapes how future allegations intersect with claims of official immunity ^[1].

2. The Access Hollywood Tape: Public Evidence and Political Fallout

The 2016 Access Hollywood audio recording captures Trump describing nonconsensual conduct and boasting about attempting to seduce a married woman, language that many commentators and legal analysts have characterized as describing sexual assault; the tape served as a foundational piece of public evidence in the court of public opinion and fueled subsequent allegations and lawsuits ^[2]. While the tape itself is not a legal conviction, it is a documented contemporaneous statement used by critics and some plaintiffs to establish a pattern of behavior, and defenders point to denials, context, or differing personal accounts to dispute its implications ^[2].

3. Multiple Women’s Accounts: Accusatory Narratives and Defensive Responses

Beyond Carroll and the Access Hollywood tape, several public figures and contestants have offered contradictory accounts: some, like Alicia Machado, publicly allege mistreatment, while others such as former Miss USA contestant Melissa Young defend Trump and recount respectful treatment, illustrating divergent firsthand narratives that media outlets present with partisan slants ^[5]. These conflicting testimonies complicate fact-finding: prosecutors and juries require evidence beyond competing claims, and public opinion often sorts narratives along political lines, with advocacy groups and media outlets amplifying versions that fit their agendas ^[5].

4. Celebrity Allegations and Claims of Retaliation

High-profile entertainers, including Salma Hayek, have publicly recounted alleged romantic advances and subsequent retaliatory behavior — for instance, efforts to humiliate or plant negative stories — which demonstrates a pattern alleged by some critics of using influence to punish rebuffed advances; Hayek’s account is presented in media summaries as part of a broader pattern of uncomfortable interactions reported by women ^[3]. These accounts are largely anecdotal and have not uniformly resulted in civil judgments, but they have shaped media coverage and contributed to public perceptions, while defenders argue selective reporting and the potential for misremembering or politicized presentation ^[3].

5. Business-Sphere Allegations: Comments, Meetings, and Reputational Harm

Women in business have described uncomfortable episodes that fall short of criminal allegations but nonetheless allege inappropriate comments or behavior in professional settings; for example, Barbara Corcoran reported Trump discussed her breasts during a business meeting, a claim that adds to a catalogue of alleged workplace misconduct and raises questions about professional power dynamics and suppression of complaints ^[6]. Such allegations can be damaging reputationally and factor into civil litigation or organizational responses, even when they do not lead to criminal charges, and media coverage of these incidents often reflects broader debates on workplace harassment standards ^[6].

6. Recent Litigation and Club Scandals That Reflect on Environment, Not Always Directly on Trump

Recent reporting on incidents at venues associated with Trump, such as a reported sexual assault at Mar-a-Lago involving club members, draws public attention to the environments linked to him but does not necessarily implicate him directly in the alleged acts; stories about such incidents are covered in ways that suggest possible reputational fallout for Trump’s private enterprises and campaigns, while legal blame may rest with individual perpetrators ^[7]. These reports illustrate how allegations tied to affiliated spaces can influence political narratives and voter perceptions even when direct legal responsibility for Trump is not established ^[7].

7. What’s Missing and Why Context Matters for the Public and Courts

Most public claims exist within a mosaic of uneven evidence: courtroom findings like Carroll’s verdict carry legal weight, contemporaneous recordings like Access Hollywood shape public understanding, and anecdotal testimonies influence perception. However, not all allegations result in charges or judgments, and defenses range from denials to exculpatory testimony from other women. The media and political actors often frame these elements to serve agendas, so understanding the difference between judicial outcomes, public statements, and unadjudicated allegations is essential for assessing the full picture ^{[1] [2] [5]}.