Who are the women who accused Donald Trump and what did each allege?

Executive summary — A shifting tally and a mix of allegations: who says what and why it matters

A range of news reports count between 18 and 28 women who have publicly accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct, with differences driven by which claims are counted, when new allegations emerged, and whether the report includes non-sexual complaints or defamation suits ^{[1] [2] [3]}. The accusations span decades and include claims of groping, forced kissing, walking in on undressed contestants, and rape, with one high‑profile civil verdict finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in E. Jean Carroll’s case in 2023 ^{[3] [4]}. Trump has denied all allegations, and responses from his team characterize many claims as politically motivated or false; at the same time some accusers have won legal judgments or pursued civil suits, adding legal weight to parts of the record ^{[4] [3]}. The variation in counts and outcomes means any definitive list requires careful attention to dates, legal findings, and editorial criteria.

1. The count keeps changing — why some lists show 18, others 27 or 28

Different outlets report different totals of women who have accused Trump, reflecting evolving reporting and choices about which claims to include: some tallies include only allegations of sexual assault while others include a broader set of misconduct and defamation disputes. For example, a 2023 snapshot cited 19 accusers, tied to momentum from the Carroll verdict, whereas late‑2024 reporting counted 27 or 28 accusers after additional women spoke publicly, including allegations dating back to the 1970s and as recently as 2013 ^{[2] [4] [3]}. The discrepancy also stems from whether outlets count claims that are similar in nature but differ in legal status — some are untested public allegations, others led to civil trials or settlements. Understanding the count requires checking the publication date and the list criteria used by each outlet to assess how comprehensive the reporting is ^{[3] [5]}.

2. Who the prominent accusers are and the claims they made

Several women whose names recur across coverage include E. Jean Carroll, Summer Zervos, Jessica Leeds, Ivana Trump, Jill Harth, Alva Johnson, Natasha Stoynoff, Cassandra Searles, Temple Taggart, Stacey Williams, and others; their allegations cover a range of conduct from unwanted kissing and groping to claims of rape or sexual assault spanning the 1970s through the 2000s ^{[3] [5]}. E. Jean Carroll’s claim led to a civil jury finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, resulting in monetary damages in 2023, while other accusers described incidents at locations like Trump Tower, Mar‑a‑Lago, and pageant venues ^{[3] [5]}. Details vary per accuser: some provided contemporaneous witness accounts or reported the incidents publicly soon after they say they occurred, while others came forward decades later, complicating corroboration and memory-based disputes ^[5].

3. Legal outcomes and public evidence that changed the conversation

The most consequential legal outcome is the 2023 civil judgment in favor of E. Jean Carroll, which a jury tied to both sexual abuse and subsequent defamatory statements by Trump; that verdict is often cited as the strongest judicial finding among the allegations ^[3]. Other matters involved civil suits that were dismissed, settled, or remain pending, and several accusers pursued defamation claims when Trump publicly countered their accounts. The release of the Access Hollywood tape also played a pivotal public role by revealing Trump’s crude remarks about women, which catalyzed additional accusers to speak out and shaped public perception of his behavior even if it is distinct from the specific allegations ^{[4] [5]}. Court rulings, settlements, and media disclosures each contribute different kinds of evidentiary weight, so assessing the overall record depends on distinguishing legally adjudicated facts from unproven allegations ^{[4] [5]}.

4. Contrasting narratives: denials, political framing, and corroboration claims

Trump and his spokespeople have consistently denied the accusations, calling them false or politically motivated and sometimes suggesting they were orchestrated by opponents; this framing is repeated across campaign statements and press releases ^{[4] [3]}. Media and legal defenders of accusers point to corroborating details, witness statements, and the Carroll verdict as evidence of credibility for at least some claims. Critics of the accusers highlight inconsistent memories, timing of disclosures, and political context to argue the allegations are suspect. The record therefore contains competing narratives: legally established findings in limited cases, widespread public allegations with varying corroboration, and categorical denials from Trump, each advancing different interpretations of the same events ^{[3] [1]}.

5. What readers should take away — context matters more than a single number

A simple tally of accusers obscures crucial differences in allegation type, timing, corroboration, and legal outcome; the most defensible conclusions separate legally adjudicated findings from unproven public claims and note that counts increased as more women spoke publicly after key moments like the Access Hollywood tape and the Carroll verdict ^{[4] [3]}. For rigorous understanding, consult contemporaneous reporting on individual allegations and the court records where cases proceeded; different outlets’ totals reflect editorial choices and evolving information rather than a single authoritative roster ^{[2] [5]}. Readers should treat lists as snapshots tied to publication dates, and prioritize primary court documents and detailed investigative reporting when assessing credibility and legal status ^[3].