Fact Check: trump raped a 13 year old

Fact-Check: "Trump raped a 13-year-old"

What We Know

The claim that Donald Trump raped a 13-year-old is associated with various allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Notably, in a civil case, E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of rape, which he has denied. Carroll's allegations, while serious, pertain to an incident that allegedly occurred in the 1990s, not involving a minor at the time of the claim (E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump).

In addition to Carroll's case, there have been multiple allegations against Trump, with at least 25 women publicly accusing him of various forms of sexual misconduct, including rape, since the 1970s (Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations). However, none of these allegations specifically mention a 13-year-old victim.

In 2024, false claims circulated on social media suggesting that Trump was facing child molestation charges, which were not substantiated by credible sources (Reuters fact-check).

Analysis

The claim that Trump raped a 13-year-old lacks credible evidence and is not supported by the documented allegations against him. The most notable case, involving E. Jean Carroll, does not include a minor as a victim, and the accusations are based on events that occurred when Carroll was an adult (E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump).

Furthermore, while there have been numerous allegations against Trump, the specific claim of raping a 13-year-old appears to be a conflation or misrepresentation of various allegations. The sources that discuss Trump's sexual misconduct do not substantiate this specific claim, and credible news outlets have debunked rumors regarding child molestation charges (Reuters fact-check).

The reliability of sources discussing Trump's sexual misconduct varies. For instance, Wikipedia provides a broad overview of allegations but may not always cite primary sources (Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations). In contrast, legal documents and reputable news articles offer more substantiated accounts, such as the details surrounding Carroll's allegations (E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump, AP News).

Conclusion

Verdict: Partially True

The claim that Trump raped a 13-year-old is Partially True in that it reflects the broader context of allegations against him, but it is misleading and not substantiated by credible evidence. The allegations of sexual misconduct against Trump do not include a verified incident involving a 13-year-old. The conflation of various claims and the spread of misinformation contribute to the confusion surrounding this topic.