Trump petitions Supreme Court to overturn $83 million defamation judgment

Attorneys for former President Donald Trump filed a petition on July 28, 2026, seeking to overturn the $83.3 million judgment in the defamation case brought by E. Jean Carroll. The filing argues that this case marks the first instance in U.S. history where a court has imposed damages on a sitting president for actions taken while in office. The petition claims that the Second Circuit Court did not address whether presidential immunity applies to Trump's statements made from the White House regarding Carroll's allegations of personal misconduct. The petition cites a Supreme Court ruling from 2024 that recognized the necessity of presidential immunity for official acts. Carroll's attorney did not respond to requests for comment. In previous rulings, a federal jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, resulting in a total judgment of $83.3 million against him, which includes $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages.