New York, NY – E. Jean Carroll, the former Elle columnist who won a $83.3 million defamation verdict against Donald Trump in January 2024, has reignited debate with a viral social media post on April 19, 2025. Shared by Occupy Democrats, Carroll’s message claims Trump, now appealing the verdict, wants American taxpayers to foot his legal bills, stating, “Friends, remember that $83,300,000 defamation suit Trump lost? Well, he’s appealing it. And guess who he wants to pay for his lawyers. You, the American tax payer.”
The defamation case stems from Trump’s 2019 denials of Carroll’s 1990s sexual assault allegations, which a jury found defamatory, awarding $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages. Trump appealed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in March 2024, arguing the award was excessive and biased by unrelated testimony. As of April 19, 2025, the appeal is pending, with Trump posting a $91.6 million bond to cover the judgment during litigation.
Carroll’s claim that Trump seeks taxpayer funding lacks direct evidence but taps into broader concerns. Trump has spent over $100 million in donor funds from his Save America PAC on legal fees since 2021, including $5.5 million on the Carroll case. Recent Truth Social posts on April 10, 2025, show him soliciting donations, framing his legal battles as “WITCH HUNTS” by “Radical Leftists.” However, federal law prohibits using taxpayer money for personal lawsuits, and no policy has been proposed to do so. During his first term, the Justice Department briefly defended Trump in the case, a move later dropped, fueling speculation about potential misuse of public resources.
On X, reactions are divided. Critics like
@RpsAgainstTrump echo Carroll, claiming Trump “always makes others pay,” while supporters like
@TrumpDailyPosts call the lawsuit a “political attack.” Carroll’s team has urged the 2nd Circuit to uphold the verdict, citing Trump’s 40 defamatory statements since the ruling. The appeal could set precedents for defamation law, but for now, Trump’s legal costs remain funded by donors, not taxpayers, despite the post’s rhetorical warning.
The controversy underscores the financial and political stakes of Trump’s legal battles, which include 91 felony counts across other cases. As the appeal unfolds, Carroll’s words keep the spotlight on accountability—and who ultimately pays the price.
