E. Jean Carroll, the writer who accused President Donald Trump of assault in the 1990s, has admitted [1] in a recent interview that her legal strategy included calculated theatrics designed to sway jurors during her civil case.
Carroll revealed that she and her legal team deliberately focused on her appearance, seeking to convince jurors she was attractive enough in the 1990s for Trump to pursue.
She recreated her look from 1996, including the same hairstyle, clothing, and makeup artist who had worked with her decades earlier on a television appearance.
“It was enough. It was a trick,” Carroll said, acknowledging the effort was staged for effect.
E. Jean Carroll says she had to trick the jury by making herself look fuckable… she goes on to say that she is glad it worked…
This bish needs to be prosecuted.
pic.twitter.com/je4QF0ehu6 [2]— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) September 8, 2025 [3]
The case centered on Carroll’s claim that Trump assaulted her in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City in the mid-1990s.
Carroll first went public with her allegations in 2019. Trump has consistently denied the accusation, stating he does not know Carroll and calling the allegation politically motivated.
“This woman is not my type,” Trump said when asked about her claims.
Although the case lacked physical evidence, a jury in federal court found Trump liable for civil battery and defamation.
Carroll was awarded $83.3 million in damages, most of it punitive, based on Trump’s public statements denying her allegations.
Trump’s legal team sought to shield him under a Supreme Court precedent granting presidents immunity from civil lawsuits over official acts.
However, courts determined that Trump’s remarks about Carroll were not related to his official duties. His attorneys have said they intend to take the case to the Supreme Court.
Carroll’s admission has raised new questions about the role of presentation and perception in high-profile cases.
By openly acknowledging her courtroom appearance was designed as a performance, she has highlighted the extent to which juror impressions may have been shaped by factors beyond evidence and testimony.
In addition to the case involving Carroll, media coverage surrounding the litigation has also faced scrutiny.
Earlier this year, ABC News reached a $15 million settlement with Trump after anchor George Stephanopoulos repeatedly said on-air that Trump had been found “guilty of rape.”
No court has reached that conclusion, and the comments were later corrected as part of the settlement.
The Carroll verdict and her own description of her legal strategy underscore the ongoing legal battles President Trump continues to face.
While his attorneys prepare further appeals, Carroll’s acknowledgment that her team relied on calculated image tactics rather than new evidence has fueled debate over the fairness of the proceedings and the broader impact of courtroom theatrics on the justice system.