Key Takeaways:

• A New York jury awarded E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million.
• Jurors were captivated by Trump’s odd courtroom behavior.
• The turning point came when Trump stormed out.
• Carroll says that exit showed his guilt.

E. Jean Carroll says the key to winning her defamation case was watching Donald Trump’s own actions. A jury sided with the 81-year-old journalist. They found Trump liable after he called her a liar for accusing him of sexual assault. Carroll shared the dramatic details in a podcast interview. She says jurors could not look away as Trump fidgeted and complained. Then he stormed out. In her view, he lost the trial right then and there.

Inside the Trump Defamation Trial Spectacle

Carroll described Trump’s behavior during the trial as bizarre. He left the campaign trail to attend every day. Yet instead of calm, he sat moaning and groaning. He even snorted as he spoke. Carroll said he wore heavy apricot makeup and styled his hair like an old Hollywood star. Jurors sat forward, glued to his every move. Carroll told the Daily Beast Podcast they “were mesmerized.”

“He never sat still,” she recalled. “He talked all the time within earshot of the jury. He belittled his own attorney, spat when he talked, and he didn’t smell so good.” Those details became part of the story. They showed a man on edge. As Carroll sees it, they also showed a man who had already lost.

The Moment That Sealed the Verdict

Carroll singles out one instant as pivotal. Her attorney, Roberta Kaplan, gave her closing argument. She urged jurors to think about how much harm Trump’s words caused. As Kaplan spoke, Trump’s face grew red. According to Carroll, he stood up with “steam coming off his back and hot air blowing out his ears.” Then he stormed out of the courtroom.

“When a man is innocent, he doesn’t storm out,” Carroll said. “He stays and fights. He turned tail and stormed out. He lost right at that second.” This sudden exit, she believes, confirmed his guilt in front of everyone.

Background of the Defamation Claim

In 2019, Carroll went public with her claim. She said Trump raped her in a lingerie store dressing room in the 1990s. Trump denied the accusation and called her a liar. He even quipped, “She’s not my type.” These denials sparked the defamation lawsuit. Carroll’s first case ended in 2023 with a $5 million award for sexual abuse. Then came the second trial over defamation.

A jury found Trump defamed Carroll by publicly calling her claims false. They saw proof that he knew her allegation was truthful before lying about it. That led to the massive $83.3 million verdict. It included damages for harm to Carroll’s reputation, emotional distress, and punitive penalties.

A Victory Felt Nationwide

When the verdict came in, Carroll says she floated above the courtroom ceiling. She felt like she left her body. She heard the clerk read the number and saw the judge’s shocked face. Then she heard “million.” Carroll said the win felt “enormous” and “powerful.” It proved, she added, “that Trump can be beaten.”

Last month, a federal appeals court denied Trump’s bid to overturn the big verdict. Carroll says that denial confirms her victory. “We’ve proved — Robbie proved, and I proved — that Trump can be beaten,” she said.

Lessons from the Case

This defamation fight shows how damaging untrue public statements can be. It also highlights the impact of courtroom demeanor. Trump’s odd behavior may have distracted jurors. It may even have turned them against him. Carroll’s case reminds us that every gesture and word in court can matter. Even a single moment can change the outcome.

FAQs

What happened when Trump walked out of the courtroom?

When Trump stormed out during closing arguments, Carroll says jurors saw his guilt. He admitted defeat by refusing to stay and listen.

How much was E. Jean Carroll awarded?

A New York jury awarded her $83.3 million for defamation.

Why did Trump face a defamation trial?

Carroll sued him for calling her allegations of sexual assault a lie. The jury found he defamed her.

Can Trump still challenge the verdict?

A federal appeals court recently denied his bid to overturn the verdict, leaving the award in place.