US President Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to overturn the $83.3 million defamation verdict awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll, arguing that he is immune from civil liability for statements made while serving as president.
The appeal, filed on Tuesday, relies heavily on the Supreme Court’s landmark 2024 ruling that granted broad presidential immunity for official acts performed while in office.
Trump Cites Presidential Immunity
In the filing, Trump’s legal team argued that the case is unprecedented because it holds a sitting or former president personally liable for conduct carried out during his presidency.
“This is the first case in our nation’s history in which a court has imposed damages liability on a president for his conduct in office,” Trump’s lawyers said in the appeal.
They argued that the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld the $83.3 million verdict without first deciding whether presidential immunity applied.
Trump’s attorneys also warned that allowing the judgment to stand could have broader consequences for future presidents.
According to the filing, the ruling “would cause significant damage, not only to this president and future presidents” but also to the country.
Trump Wants US Government Named as Defendant
Apart from the immunity claim, Trump’s lawyers asked the Supreme Court to consider whether the United States government, rather than Trump personally, should be substituted as the defendant.
They argued that the allegedly defamatory remarks were made while Trump was carrying out his official duties, including issuing a White House press release and responding to reporters’ questions.
The request invokes protections under the Westfall Act, a federal law that shields government employees from certain civil lawsuits arising from actions taken within the scope of their official duties.
If the government were substituted as the defendant, it could effectively end Carroll’s defamation claim.
Appeal Follows Earlier Supreme Court Decision
The latest appeal comes weeks after the Supreme Court declined to hear a separate case in which Trump sought to overturn a $5 million civil judgment that found he had sexually abused and defamed Carroll.
Trump has denied all allegations in both cases.
The $83.3 million verdict relates to statements Trump made in 2019, when he denied Carroll’s allegations, claimed she was “not my type” and accused her of fabricating the accusation to promote her book.
A federal jury concluded those remarks were defamatory and awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages.
Appeals Court Rejected Trump’s Arguments
Earlier this year, the Second Circuit upheld the verdict, describing the damages award as reasonable given the circumstances of the case.
The appeals court also rejected Trump’s immunity argument, saying he had raised it too late in the litigation and that the Supreme Court’s 2024 immunity ruling did not alter its conclusions.
The full appeals court later declined to reconsider the decision.
One judge noted that Trump did not invoke presidential immunity until three years after the lawsuit began, adding that no other defendant would typically be allowed to replace themselves with the federal government after a trial had already concluded.
Supreme Court Likely to Consider Case Later This Year
Because the Supreme Court is currently on its summer recess, it is not expected to consider Trump’s appeal until its new term begins in the autumn.
If the justices agree to hear the case, a final decision would likely not be issued until next year.
Carroll has maintained that Trump defamed her by publicly denying her sexual assault allegation and accusing her of lying for political and financial gain. Trump continues to deny any wrongdoing and is pursuing legal avenues to overturn both judgments.