Fact check: How did Trump respond to the rape allegations made by Summer Zervos?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Donald Trump responded to Summer Zervos' rape allegations with categorical denials and counter-accusations. Trump called Zervos "a liar" and described her allegations as "a hoax" ^{[1] [2]}. He specifically stated: "To be clear, I never met her at a hotel or greeted her inappropriately a decade ago" and "That is not who I am as a person, and it is not how I've conducted my life" ^[1].

Trump's denials led to a defamation lawsuit that lasted nearly five years, as Zervos sued him for calling her a liar rather than pursuing the sexual assault allegations directly ^{[3] [4] [2]}. The case ultimately ended when Zervos dropped the lawsuit without receiving any apology or monetary compensation ^{[5] [2]}. After the case was dropped, Trump claimed he was "totally vindicated" ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question omits several crucial pieces of context that emerged during the legal proceedings:

• Phone records were presented as evidence that Zervos' lawyer claimed provided "irrefutable proof" of the allegations, showing Trump made multiple calls to Zervos in 2007 and 2008, which corroborated her account of their interactions ^[1]
• Trump's legal team employed a presidential immunity defense, arguing that U.S. presidents are immune to suits in state court over their personal conduct, though a Manhattan Supreme Court judge denied this request and allowed the lawsuit to proceed ^[3]
• The case represents a broader legal strategy for sexual misconduct victims: suing alleged abusers for defamation when they can no longer be held directly liable for the original actions ^[3]
• Zervos maintained her position even after dropping the case, with her lawyers stating she "stands by the allegations in her complaint" and "has secured the right to speak freely about her experience" ^{[4] [2]}

Trump and his legal team would benefit from the narrative that the case's dismissal proves his innocence, while Zervos and sexual assault advocates would benefit from the narrative that the legal system makes it difficult for victims to pursue justice against powerful figures.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself appears neutral and factual, simply asking about Trump's response to the allegations. However, it uses the term "rape allegations" while the sources consistently refer to "sexual assault allegations" ^{[1] [2] [4]}, which may represent a subtle but important distinction in legal terminology.

The question also doesn't specify the timeframe, potentially missing the evolution of Trump's response from initial denials through the lengthy legal battle to his final claims of vindication after the case was dropped.