Appeals Court Upholds $83.3 Million Defamation Verdict Against Trump

Lead A federal appeals court on Monday refused to overturn an $83.3 million jury verdict against former President Donald Trump for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll, rejecting his presidential immunity claim in New York’s 2nd Circuit.

Nut Graf The unanimous three-judge panel held that Trump’s challenges to the defamation damages, his entitlement to immunity and alleged trial-court errors lacked merit, preserving one of Carroll’s two major civil victories against him and underscoring ongoing legal setbacks for the ex-president.

Details

Presidential Immunity Denied The appeals court dismissed Trump’s argument that Supreme Court precedent shielding official acts barred Carroll’s defamation suit, affirming that his public denials and attacks did not qualify as protected official duties.
Scope of Damages The $83.3 million award includes $18.3 million for emotional distress and reputational harm and $65 million in punitive damages, deemed “reasonable” given the jury’s findings of malice and harm to Carroll’s reputation.
Prior Verdicts In May 2023, a New York jury had already awarded Carroll $5 million for sexual abuse and defamation; that judgment was upheld by the same appeals court in June 2025, reflecting Carroll’s continued success in civil courts.
Trump’s Legal Strategy Trump contended that comments he made about Carroll in 2019 fell within his presidential duties and that multiple trial-court rulings warranted a retrial; the appeals panel rejected each challenge, finding no reversible error.
Next Steps With no immediate stay in place, Trump must satisfy the judgment or seek Supreme Court review. Carroll’s legal team has vowed to enforce the award, characterizing it as “just compensation” for years of defamation.

Subheadings for Online Readers

Immunity Claim Rebuffed
Breakdown of $83.3 Million Award
Carroll’s Dual Civil Victories
Potential Supreme Court Appeal