Fact check: Did trump admit to sexually assaulting women on tape

1. Summary of the results

Yes, Donald Trump did admit to sexually assaulting women on tape. The evidence comes from the infamous 2005 "Access Hollywood" recording where Trump made lewd comments about women, including bragging about grabbing them by the genitals ^[1]. Many attorneys and media commentators characterized Trump's statements as describing acts of sexual assault ^[1].

The tape was recorded in 2005 during a conversation with Billy Bush, who had flagged Trump's lewd comments to a superior at the time, though the tape wasn't released until 2016 during Trump's presidential campaign ^[2]. The release led to widespread criticism and calls for Trump to drop out of the race ^[1].

Trump has doubled down on these remarks in subsequent legal proceedings. During his deposition in the E. Jean Carroll defamation and battery case, Trump stated that "historically, that's true with stars" and considered himself a star, implying that he could do anything to women ^[3]. This suggests Trump's comments may be seen as a confession to his behavior towards women ^[3].

The legal consequences have been significant. A jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse in the E. Jean Carroll case and awarded her $5 million, though they did not find him liable for rape ^[4]. This adds to the approximately two dozen women who have publicly accused Trump of sexual misconduct, with allegations dating back to the 1970s ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements:

• Trump initially apologized for the comments when the tape was first released, though this apology came with caveats and attempts to deflect criticism by bringing up the actions of Bill and Hillary Clinton ^[6]. However, Trump has since privately questioned the authenticity of the tape, despite having previously acknowledged the comments ^[7].
• The broader pattern of allegations is missing from the simple question. Multiple specific accusers are documented, including Jessica Leeds, Jill Harth, and Stacey Williams, among others ^[8].
• Trump has consistently denied all allegations and characterized them as politically motivated lies ^[8], presenting an alternative narrative that his supporters would benefit from accepting.
• The timing of the tape's release during the 2016 presidential campaign raises questions about political motivations, which Trump's defenders have emphasized.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question is factually accurate but potentially incomplete in several ways:

• It focuses solely on the tape admission without acknowledging the broader pattern of sexual misconduct allegations spanning decades ^[5].
• The question doesn't mention that Trump has both acknowledged and later questioned the authenticity of his own recorded statements ^{[7] [6]}.
• By framing it as a simple yes/no question, it may oversimplify the legal and political complexities surrounding the issue, including Trump's various responses and the ongoing legal proceedings that have resulted in actual liability findings ^[4].

The question appears neutral but could be seen as either seeking to confirm damaging information about Trump or as a setup to discuss his denials and claims of political persecution, depending on the questioner's intent.