Where Things Stand: Trump Makes Sure Jury Knows He’s Not Attracted To E. Jean Carroll’s Lawyer, Either

This is your TPM evening briefing.
ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND - MAY 01: Former U.S. President Donald Trump disembarks his plane "Trump Force One" at Aberdeen Airport on May 1, 2023 in Aberdeen, Scotland. Former U.S. President Donald Trump is visiting Scotland... ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND - MAY 01: Former U.S. President Donald Trump disembarks his plane "Trump Force One" at Aberdeen Airport on May 1, 2023 in Aberdeen, Scotland. Former U.S. President Donald Trump is visiting Scotland as he faces legal actions in the United States. Early April, Trump had pled not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The jury in the civil trial in which author E. Jean Carroll is accusing Donald Trump of rape was finally shown video of Trump’s taped deposition Thursday where he mixes up a photo of Carroll with one of his ex-wives, Marla Maples.

During that same deposition which was recorded at Mar-a-Lago in October, Trump goes to incredibly strange places, telling Carroll’s lawyer that, just like her client, she’s not his “type,” either.

According to reports from inside the courtroom, the deposition features an agitated Donald Trump growing snarky and exasperated as Roberta Kaplan questioned him seven months ago. Trump has chosen not to attend the civil trial, but the jury saw the footage Thursday. Carroll is suing Trump for battery and defamation, alleging he raped her in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman in the 1990s.

Trump has denied the accusations since Carroll first came forward and his main defense has been claiming that Carroll is not his “type.” But during the deposition, Trump poked holes in his own defense. When Kaplan showed Trump a picture of himself talking to Carroll at a party in the past, Trump confused Carroll with Maples.

“It’s Marla,” he said, according to reports. “That’s Marla, yeah. That’s my wife.”

Later, Kaplan reportedly asked Trump questions about other women who have accused him of sexual assault. That’s when the former president grew heated, telling Kaplan “you wouldn’t be a choice of mine, either, to be honest.”

“I wouldn’t in any circumstances have any interest in you,” he said, bringing in the rejected dude at a bar defense.

The Best Of TPM Today

Here’s what you should read this evening:

Romney Laments That Democrats Didn’t Raise The Debt Ceiling Themselves Before His Party Got Involved

Florida GOP Lawmakers Use Last Days Of Legislative Session To Attack Trans Rights

Justice Department Angles To Rein In Power-Hungry Trump Judges

Tucker Carlson Helped Broker The Deal That Got McCarthy The Speaker’s Gavel

Zephyr’s Lawyers Weighing Appeal To The Montana Supreme Court

Must read from ProPublica: Clarence Thomas Had A Child In Private School. Harlan Crow Paid the Tuition.

Yesterday’s Most Read Story

Shit Gets Real – Fiscal Cliff Edition — Josh Marshall

What We Are Reading

Donald Trump’s Rape Trial Goes From One Disaster to Another — Daily Beast

Despite renewed focus on Feinstein’s health, details of her condition are scarce — LA Times

Florida Passes Bill Allowing Trans Kids to Be Taken From Their Families  — New Republic

Latest Editors' Blog
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: