Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to step into one of the most closely watched legal battles in recent years, a development likely to draw major attention across Europe news, ireland news, and wider irish news coverage. The filing seeks to overturn a defamation award worth roughly €71 million granted to writer E. Jean Carroll after a jury found Trump liable for defamatory statements linked to her sexual assault accusation.
The appeal was submitted electronically and is expected to be formally entered on the court docket. At the centre of the dispute is whether Trump can be held personally liable for comments he made while serving as US president during his first term.
Europe news: Why Trump is asking the Supreme Court to intervene
Trump and the US Justice Department argue that the remarks at issue were made as part of his official role in office. Their legal position leans on two overlapping arguments:
- Presidential immunity, which Trump’s lawyers say should protect statements made while he was president in 2019.
- The Westfall Act, which the Justice Department says shields federal employees from personal lawsuits for conduct carried out within official duties.
Federal lawyers argued that, without Supreme Court intervention, a sitting president could face enormous personal financial exposure for conduct they say fell within the scope of federal office. They also described the case as historically significant, saying no previous US court has imposed this kind of damages liability on a president for actions taken while in office.
The background to the E. Jean Carroll case
Carroll told two New York juries that Trump sexually assaulted her in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman in the mid-1990s. She first publicly detailed the allegation in a 2019 memoir.
After that, Trump denied knowing her, rejected the claim, and accused her of making up the story to promote her book. Carroll then brought a defamation case based on those statements.
In January 2024, a Manhattan jury awarded Carroll about €71 million in damages. That came after a separate 2023 verdict in which another jury awarded her roughly €4.3 million, finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and for defamatory comments made after he left office. That earlier judgment has already been paid.
Read more: latest ireland news updates and political analysis | breaking irish news headlines and media coverage
What lower courts have decided so far
Trump has already tried once to get the Supreme Court to undo damages awarded to Carroll. In June, the justices declined to hear his appeal in the separate €4.3 million case.
In the €71 million defamation matter, lower courts have so far refused to overturn the award. Still, the appeals process has shown some division: an appellate court in New York was split and agreed to pause payment while the Supreme Court considers whether to take up the case.
This means the legal fight is not yet over, even though Trump has repeatedly lost at earlier stages.
Key points in the latest filing
- The award under challenge is approximately €71 million.
- The comments were made in 2019 while Trump was in office.
- Trump says he should be protected from personal liability.
- The Justice Department supports Supreme Court review.
- Carroll’s lawyers have not commented on the latest filing.
Explore more: in-depth europe news, legal affairs and global current affairs | top ireland news stories readers are following today
Why this matters beyond the US
This case is being tracked closely in Europe news coverage because it touches on presidential power, defamation law, and the limits of legal immunity. For readers following ireland news and irish news, it is also a reminder that major US court decisions often shape global political debate and media scrutiny.
If the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, it could produce an important ruling on whether a president’s public denials and personal attacks can be treated as official acts. For now, the €71 million verdict remains in place while Trump continues his legal challenge. The big takeaway for anyone following Europe news is simple: this is no longer just a damages dispute, but a test of how far presidential legal protections can reach.
FAQs
What is Trump asking the Supreme Court to do?
He is asking the court to overturn the €71 million defamation award won by E. Jean Carroll.
Why does Trump say the award should be overturned?
His legal team argues that the statements were made while he was president and should be covered by presidential immunity or federal employee protections.
Has Trump already lost other Carroll cases?
Yes. A separate case resulted in an award of about €4.3 million, and the Supreme Court previously declined to hear that appeal.
Has the €71 million been paid?
No. Payment has been delayed while the Supreme Court considers whether to take up the case.
