A video recording of former President Donald Trump being questioned about the rape allegations against him was made public for the first time Friday, providing a glimpse of the Republican’s categorical but frequently offensive denials.
Jurors got to see the video of Trump’s October 2022 deposition over the past few days at the trial in the lawsuit filed against him by advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. Written transcripts of Trump’s testimony had also previously been made public, but not the recording itself.
The video shows Trump answering questions in a monotone, sullen, resentful tone. He called Carroll’s claim that he raped her in a luxury Manhattan department store “a false, disgusting lie.”
“It’s a disgrace. Frankly it’s a disgrace that something like this can be brought,” Trump said.
Trump reiterated his assertion that Carroll is “not my type,” but also mistook her for his second wife, Marla Maples, when shown a photo of him meeting Carroll and her then-husband at an event in the 1980s. At the same time, he gratuitously and crudely told Carroll’s lawyer, who was questioning him, that she was not his type either.
Trump was also asked about the infamous “Access Hollywood” video in which he bragged about grabbing women’s genitals. He doubled down on the claim that famous people can have their way with women, saying: “Historically that’s true with stars.” When asked by the lawyer if he considers that to be true for himself as well, he answered, “I’d say that, yes.”
All planned testimony in the trial concluded Thursday, clearing the way for closing arguments by the lawyers to happen Monday barring a last-minute decision by Trump to testify.
