Let’s say it louder for the deliberate ignorance in the back:
Donald J. Trump, POTUS, actively stands accused by a legion of women of being a serial sexual predator and pedophile.
Pathological predators like Donald J. Trump do not merely thrive on power; they thrive on their cultivated ability to poison the well of public opinion, casting doubt on their accusers. This doubt, a carefully deployed weapon, is coupled with a disarming normalization of their behavior through a twisted form of "relatability." The result is a chilling effect, forcing other victims into silence, making them less likely to report their own assault by the same perpetrator. The insidious questions—"Did she just tell him to stop?" "Why was she there alone with him?" "He probably just thought she was interested"—are not questions at all. They are instruments of blame-shifting, designed to strip culpability from the criminals by placing it squarely on the shoulders of the victims.
This reluctance to report is exponentially more prevalent in children. A developing mind, still learning to navigate the primal chaos of "fight or flight," witnesses the public shaming of accusers and learns a devastating lesson: stay silent. Hope it goes away. When the assailant is a figure of authority, that young mind cannot fully grasp what is right, what is wrong, or what is a grotesque violation disguised as affection. This adds yet another layer of psychological armor that a victim must shatter before they can even begin to speak their truth.
When victims find the courage to come forward, they must be met with a presumption of compassion, not a verdict of shame. While the courts exist to determine guilt in the eyes of the law, these are not ordinary crimes. They are heinous, personal violations often orchestrated with a conscious intention by the perpetrator to create an environment of secrecy and shame, making legal conviction a monumental challenge.
If an individual faces numerous accusations of sexual assault, especially when those assaults involve children, it is not a political squabble; it is a moral siren that must be answered with a full and unflinching investigation. Trump has demonstrated a dark artistry in keeping his accusers at bay through a masterclass in bribery, intimidation, and defamation—a craft he has honed over decades as his alleged attacks became more frequent and his methods for silencing victims, particularly the young, became more refined.
The relationship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein is not conjecture; it is a well-documented fact, corroborated by scores of witnesses who knew them both and can recount specific moments of their convivial depravity. Though he has had plenty to say on the matter, here is how Trump’s memory of his "terrific guy" has evolved.
“I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,” Trump said. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.” (2002)[1]
On Bill Clinton: “Nice guy,” he responded. “Got a lot of problems coming up in my opinion with the famous island with Jeffrey Epstein. A lot of problems.” (2015)[2]
“Basically what we’re saying is we want an investigation,” Trump said. “I want a full investigation, and that’s what I absolutely am demanding.” (2019)[3]
“Yes. And I did have a falling out a long time ago. The reason doesn’t make any difference, frankly. But I haven’t spoken to him in probably 15 years or more. I wasn’t a big fan of Jeffrey Epstein, that I can tell you.” (2019)[4]
On declassifying the Epstein files: “Yeah, I would. I guess I would. I think that less so because you don’t want to affect people’s lives if it’s phony stuff in there, because it’s a lot of phony stuff with that whole world. But I think I would.” (2024)[5]
On the Epstein Client list: "It's very interesting, isn't it? It probably will be [made public], by the way, probably." ... "I'd have no problem with it." (2024)[6]
“Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy’s been talked about for years,” he said, incredulous. “You’re asking … we have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things, and are people still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable. I mean, I can’t believe you’re asking a question on Epstein at a time like this, where we’re having some of the greatest success and also tragedy with what happened in Texas. It just seems like a desecration.” (2025)[7]
“For years, it’s Epstein, over and over again. Why are we giving publicity to Files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration, who conned the World with the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, 51 ‘Intelligence’ Agents, ‘THE LAPTOP FROM HELL,’ and more?” (2025)[8]
“I don’t understand it, why they would be so interested. He’s dead for a long time. He was never a big factor in terms of life. I don’t understand what the interest or the fascination is. The credible information has been given…. I don’t understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It’s pretty boring stuff. It’s sordid, but it’s boring. I don’t understand why it keeps going. I think only really pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going.” (2025)[9]
One could argue that an opinion of an acquaintance can change over time, especially given the horrors that have come to light about Epstein. Let us, for a moment, grant this generosity. Let us say that Trump was merely placating a business associate with niceties, and his true revulsion only surfaced after the depths of Epstein's crimes were revealed.
But while we are in the business of believing the unsubstantiated words of one man regarding events that happened decades ago, let us apply that same charity to the words of the dozens of women who have come forward about that man.
Below is a list—exhaustive in its attempt but likely incomplete in its scope—of the sexual assault allegations against Donald J. Trump over time. If you are one who reflexively errs on the side of the accused, who believes the predator to be a more reliable source than the prey, I ask you a simple, solemn question: How many? How many women, how many girls, must come forward before you accept that this man is a serial predator with a sickening affinity for the vulnerability of children?
A Timeline of Donald J. Trump's Assaults
Trump sexually assaults Jessica Leeds on a flight to New York. They were not traveling companions.[10]
Trump attends and participates in multiple sex parties filled with children as young as 15-years-old who had been given illegal drugs and a promise of career advancement. This decade is described as one witness as his "Trump days," and another witness sees Trump engage in sexual activity, stating that "a lot of girls, [aged] 14, look 24."[11]
Trump rapes his then-wife Ivana and rips hair from her scalp. In their divorce settlement, she then agreed to a confidentiality clause and retracts her statement during Trump's presidential campaign.[12]
Trump gropes aspiring model, Kristin Anderson, at a nightclub known as "Donald's Monday-night nest" due to his habit of picking up women there. She told her friends at the time and came forward to provide her story for a New York Times article.[13]
Trump gropes Sports Illustrated model Stacey Williams [25] while Jeffrey Epstein watches. Williams racalled that Trump and Epstein had been "really, really good friends and spent a lot of time together."[14]
Trump pins Jill Harth and attempts to rape her in his daughter, Ivanka's, bedroom. Her 1997 lawsuit was settled outside of court, and she still claims his actions were "unwanted and aggressive, very sexually aggressive."[15]
Trump and Epstein sexually assault a 13-year-old child, Katie Johnson, at a party in Epstein's Manhattan residence. She withdrew her 2016 lawsuit out of fear for her safety.[16]
Trump rapes writer E. Jean Carroll. After he called her a liar in 2020, Carroll sued Trump for defamation, a suit that awarded damages to Carroll. The judge dismiss Trump's coutersuit, finding that Carroll's accusation of "rape" is "substantially true."[17]
Trump hosts a dinner with modeling agent John Casablancas and instructs Lisa Boyne, Sonja (Tremont) Morgan, other aspiring models to walk across the table. Donald looks up their skirts and describes to the other attendees if they are wearing underwear.[18]
Trump grabs and forces a kiss on Cathy Heller in front of her husband and children at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Heller's husband and children have corroborated the account.[19]
Trump forces unwanted kisses and embraces on Miss Utah USA, Temple (Taggart) McDowell. These actions were so untoward, McDowell's chaperones instructed her to not be left alone with him again.[20]
Trump forcibly kisses and gropes model Amy Dorris at the 1997 U.S. Open while attending with her boyfriend, Jason Binn. Dorris claims "his hands were very gropey and all over my butt, my breasts, my back, everything." ... "It felt like there were tentacles on me that I couldn't rip off. I was trying to get his arms off of me, and they would not come off because I wasn't strong enough." She recounted the events to her mother and a friend immediately after the incident and further reviewed it with several other friends and her therapist since it occured.[21]
Trump "inspects" Miss Vermont Teen USA Mariah Billado and other child contestants of the Miss Teen USA pageant as they prepare in their dressing room. These accounts have been corroborated by Trump's daughter, Ivanka, Miss New Mexico Teen USA, Victoria Hughes, and other child contestants. The youngest child contestant present in the dresing room was 15-years-old. Trump has recounted these "inspections," including during a 2005 interview with Howard Stern.[22]
Trump grabs and gropes Karena Virginia at the 1998 U.S. Open. Virginia recalls Trump's repeated claims of "Don't you know who I am?" and says she felt intimidated and powerless.[23]
Trump walks into the dressing room of Miss New Hampshire USA, Bridget Sullivan, as she and other contestants were naked and preparing for a television broadcast.[24]
Trump gropes the genitals of Karen Johnson, pulls her behind a tapestry, and forcibly kisses her at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Johnson recalles telling a friend about the incident years before Trump ran for president.[25]
Trump uninvitingly enters the dressing room of Miss Arizona USA, Tasha Dixon, while she and other contestants were in varying degrees of undress. They were then encouraged by Trump's staff to "go fawn all over him, go walk up to him, [sic] talk to him[.]"[26]
Trump enters the dressing room of an anonymous Miss USA contestant and "stood there and stared at" them. Another anonymous contestant corroborated the account.[27]
Trump gropes Mindy McGillivray at his Mar-a-Largo estate. She pulled a coworker aside moments after the incident to tell him "Donald just grabbed my ass," and that recount has been corroborated.[28]
Trump forcibly kisses Bayrock Group receptionist, Rachel Crooks, in an elevator of the Trump Tower. Her recount is that Trump would not let go of their handshake and proceeded to kiss Rachel on the cheeks then directly on the mouth.[29]
Trump pins and forcibly kisses journalist Natasha Stoynoff at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The assault was interrupted by the estate butler, allowing Stoynoff to unpin herself from Trump's hold. Trump later tells Natasha, "We're going to have an affair, I'm telling you."[30]
Trump uninvitingly kisses reporter Juliet Huddy on the lips in an elevator with her and Trump's secruity guard at the Trump Tower. Huddy recalls, "I was surprised that he went for the lips. [sic] But I didn't feel threatened[.]"[31]
Trump uninvitingly kisses Jessica Drake and her two acquaintances in his suite at a Lake Tahoe hotel. Drake later refused Trump's offer to join him in his suite for $10,000 and an offer to fly her back to LA on his jet.[32]
Trump gropes Miss Finland 2006, Ninni Laaksonen, before going on air on the Late Show with David Letterman. She was later informed that Trump liked her because she looked like his wife, Melania, when she was younger.[33]
Trump assaults fifth season Apprentice contestant, Summer Zervos. After calling her a liar, Trump attempted to get out of a defamation lawsuit claiming immunity from state lawsuits as POTUS. Eventually, Zervos withdraws her lawsuit before Trump is forced to provide a deposition under oath.[34]
Trump gropes and fondles Miss Washington USA, Cassandra Searles, during the Miss USA pageant. Searles also recounts that he made repeated unwanted advances and invitations to his hotel room.[35]
Trump forcibly kisses a campaign worker, Alva Johnson, infront of other staffers, including Pam Bondi. Her case was reduced to a claim of battery from sexual battery, and the lawsuit was later dropped with Johnson saying she was "facing a judge who openly questions whether the kiss is worthy of a federal lawsuit and has determined that Mr. Trump's history of such behavior is not relevat, and I've endured ongoing threats to my safety."[36]
In the meantime, I will close with the man's own words on his behavior. No one says it better.
Regarding a Trump presidential run: "Can you imagine how controversial I'd be?...You think about (Bill Clinton) with the women. How about me with the women? Can you imagine?" (1998)[38]
Regarding the privelege of ownership: "I'll go backstage before a show, and everyone's getting dressed and ready and everything else. ...You know, no men are anywhere. And I'm allowed to go in because I'm the owner of the pageant. And therefore I'm inspecting it. ... Is everyone OK? You know, they're standing there with no clothes. And you see these incredible-looking women. And so I sort of get away with things like that." (2005)[39]
Disclaimer: The recounts of the women in these articles remain, at this time, allegations. Money can buy many things, and silence is chief among them.
References:
- https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/n_7912
- https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/23/politics/donald-trump-ghislaine-maxwell-jeffrey-epstein-history
- https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-air-force-one-departure-11/
- https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-marine-one-departure-52/
- https://www.foxnews.com/politics/10-reasons-doj-fbi-face-backlash-over-epstein-files-flop
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCbfTN-caFI
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8ZosKqSP70
- https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114842356238631061
- https://x.com/atrupar/status/1945254981507957031
- https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/13/us/politics/donald-trump-women.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
- https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/shocking-claims-of-donald-trumps-wild-parties/news-story/0aaa8e7f60083d6d91c24ae346ea0e15
- https://www.npr.org/2016/10/13/497799354/a-list-of-donald-trumps-accusers-of-inappropriate-sexual-conduct
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/woman-says-trump-reached-under-her-skirt-and-groped-her-in-early-1990s/2016/10/14/67e8ff5e-917d-11e6-a6a3-d50061aa9fae_story.html
- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/23/donald-trump-accuser-stacey-williams-jeffrey-epstein
- https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-words-echo-womans-allegations-507763
- https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/3/13501364/trump-rape-13-year-old-lawsuit-katie-johnson-allegation
- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/nyregion/jean-carroll-sues-trump.html
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-models-skirts-underwear_n_57ffd172e4b0162c043ac07f
- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/15/donald-trump-sexual-misconduct-allegations-cathy-heller
- https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/miss-usa-contestant-details-encounters-trump-n665521
- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/17/donald-trump-accused-of-sexual-assault-by-former-model-amy-dorris
- https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jtes/a-fifth-teen-beauty-queen-says-trump-visited-dressing-room
- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/20/donald-trump-sexual-misconduct-tenth-woman-accuser
- https://www.npr.org/2016/10/13/497799354/a-list-of-donald-trumps-accusers-of-inappropriate-sexual-conduct
- https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/10/9/20906567/trump-karen-johnson-sexual-assault-mar-a-lago-barry-levine-monique-el-faizy-book
- https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/former-beauty-queen-she-other-contestants-were-forced-to-greet-trump-even-when-not-fully-dressed/
- https://www.npr.org/2016/10/13/497799354/a-list-of-donald-trumps-accusers-of-inappropriate-sexual-conduct
- https://web.archive.org/web/20170405170306/http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/national-govt--politics/palm-beach-post-exclusive-local-woman-says-trump-groped-her/aLcLWjmxbmudQMc7TXuxiK/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/13/us/politics/donald-trump-women.html
- https://people.com/politics/donald-trump-attacked-people-writer/
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/juliet-huddy-donald-trump-alleged-kiss-lift-trump-tower-a8102086.html
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/another-donald-trump-accuser-comes-out-with-charge-of-sexual-misconduct/
- https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/10/todays-trump-apocalypse-watch-miss-finland-edition.html
- https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/apprentice-star-summer-zervos-says-trump-thrust-his-genitals-on-her-114232/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20161013000405/http://www.king5.com/news/local/miss-washington-2013-says-donald-trump-groped-her/334981243
- https://www.huffpost.com/archive/in/entry/trump-alva-johnson-sexual-misconduct-accusation_in_5c88800ae4b0fbd7661ef296
- https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/a-timeline-of-donald-trumps-creepiness-while-he-owned-miss-universe-191860/
- https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/14/politics/donald-trump-old-video-controversial/index.html
- https://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/08/politics/trump-on-howard-stern#:~:text=On%20beauty%20pageant%20contestants