A federal appeals court on September 8, 2025 upheld a historic $83.3 million defamation verdict against Donald Trump, forcing him to confront the consequences of his repeated public attacks on writer E. Jean Carroll.

At a Glance

• The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s appeal of the $83.3 million defamation award to Carroll.
• The panel found the original trial was conducted properly and the damages “fair and reasonable.”
• Trump’s claim of presidential immunity failed; the court ruled his remarks were personal and not official acts.
• This verdict follows an earlier upheld judgment of $5 million for sexual abuse and defamation from 2023.

Legal Finality: Appeals Court Dismisses Trump’s Arguments

A three-judge panel of the 2nd Circuit firmly rejected Trump’s effort to overturn the verdict, saying there was no legal basis to revisit the jury’s decision. They upheld both the legal process and the scope of damages, citing the “extraordinary and egregious facts” of the case.

Trump’s request for presidential immunity was dismissed outright. The court emphasized his attacks on Carroll were personal, not official presidential conduct.

Watch now: Appeals court upholds E. Jean Carroll’s $83.3 million defamation judgment against Trump

Damage Mounts: Two Verdicts, One Huge Burden

This ruling cements the January 2024 jury’s determination that Trump must pay Carroll $83.3 million in defamation damages—$18.3 million in compensatory and $65 million in punitive. That amount adds to the earlier $5 million judgment from 2023, bringing the total to roughly $88.3 million.

Together, the verdicts reflect the legal weight of Carroll’s allegations—that Trump’s repeated defamation caused real harm. The courts have now affirmed both rulings.

What’s Next: Trump Eyes Supreme Court, Carroll Keeps Fighting

Trump’s legal team had also sought a new trial, but the appeals court dismissed that motion. His lawyers are expected to bring the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Carroll, meanwhile, continues to amplify the case’s symbolic weight. In June, she said she planned to donate the money “because the last thing I care about is money.”

Sources

Reuters
Bloomberg
Washington Post