Supreme Court Set to Rule on Defamation and First Amendment Limits in Trump v. Carroll

The Supreme Court will decide in February 2026 whether to hear Trump's challenge to an $83.3 million defamation judgment from E. Jean Carroll. A federal appeals court upheld both his liability for sexual abuse and the damages award in September 2025. The case hinges on how First Amendment protections apply when public figures deny sexual abuse allegations in statements deemed defamatory. Its outcome could reshape defamation doctrine for public-figure civil litigation.