On September 8, 2025, a federal appeals court decided that former President Donald Trump still has to pay E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million. This massive decision is final unless the Supreme Court steps in.
The Court explained that the money awarded to Carroll, including $18.3 million for compensation for damages and an even larger $65 million as punishment for Trump’s actions, was fair and reasonable.
They also called Trump’s behavior “remarkably high, perhaps unprecedented” in terms of how extreme and damaging it was, especially since he kept attacking Carroll in public even during and after the trial.
E. Jean Carroll, who is a well-known writer, accused Donald Trump of raping her in a New York department store in the 1990s. Trump denied it, saying her story was made up to sell books and calling her various names on TV, social media, and in written statements.
Carroll sued for defamation, meaning she argued Trump’s public comments lied about her, hurt her reputation, and caused her emotional harm.
There were Juries in two separate cases who mostly agreed with her: one jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, and another jury in January 2024 awarded her the massive $83.3 million payment at issue here.
Presidential Immunity
As president, Trump tried to argue that he had legal immunity from lawsuits over his public comments, pointing to a new Supreme Court ruling that said presidents can’t be easily sued for things they do officially while in office.
But the Second Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed. The judges decided he could not be protected because Trump was talking about a private person and not doing official government work. Many of Trump’s comments were made in personal contexts, so the usual shield didn’t apply.
Trump’s lawyers also argued the jury awards were far too high and that the trials were unfair. Still, the Court said the damages fit the facts, given the “egregious circumstances” and ongoing malice.
The Court noted that Trump had made matters worse for himself by continuing to criticize Carroll after a prior verdict had already found him guilty of defamation.
What Happens Next?
With this appeals court loss, E. Jean Carroll and her lawyers may now take steps to collect the full amount of money owed. Trump’s legal team has said they might ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision, but there’s no guarantee the Court will agree to hear the case. In the meantime, the $83.3 million judgment stands, and interest keeps adding up.
Carroll’s lawyer said, “We look forward to justice finally being served.” Trump’s team, meanwhile, continues to deny any wrongdoing, calling the verdict “a miscarriage of justice” and saying it threatens free speech. So far, every court has rejected these claims.
This ruling is important because it’s one of the most significant defamation awards ever given against a political figure in the U.S. This decision means even the president has to face consequences for spreading lies about someone.
The huge fine shows that the courts take repeated false attacks very seriously, especially if the person won’t stop. It also tells others that if they do the same thing, they could also have to pay a lot of money.