Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) faced significant backlash online after President Trump labeled her a “rapee.” This incident followed a tweet from Ocasio-Cortez on Friday that discussed the release of documents linked to Trump and the notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
In her tweet, she raised a question about the complexity surrounding the Epstein Files: “Who thought it would complicate the release of the Epstein Files?” This was tied to comments about Trump’s civil trial in 2023 involving E. Jean Carroll, who he was found responsible for sexually abusing.
However, many critics pointed out that Trump was not found liable for rape in that particular case, a nuance that many lawmakers seemed to overlook. Consequently, social media users urged the president to consider legal action against Ocasio-Cortez.
One user remarked, “Even under Sullivan’s incredibly generous standards, you could be liable for your honor and loss,” referencing a historic Supreme Court case relevant to defamation.
Another commenter joked, “George Stephanopoulos might recommend deleting this tweet.” This alluded to a past lawsuit against ABC when they suggested Trump was “liable for rape” during a discussion with Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC).
Last December, a settlement was reached in which ABC and Stephanopoulos agreed to pay Trump’s Presidential Library Foundation $15 million along with $1 million in legal fees, leading to a public apology.
“This is defamatory,” said Laura Rumer, an ally of Trump, linking Ocasio-Cortez’s tweet to the previous lawsuit. “I hope you’ll be sued by Trump just like George Stephanopoulos was.” Legal analyst Phil Holloway echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Ocasio-Cortez may have overstepped in her attempts to gain publicity.
The White House opted not to disclose whether Trump is considering any legal action in this matter. White House communications director Stephen Chen offered a biting critique of Ocasio-Cortez, labeling her “a sad, miserable blockhead” who should seek help for what he described as a severe case of “Trump rash syndrome.”
