Overview

• AOC’s X post calling President Trump a “rapist” has attracted over 10 million views and remains active despite widespread backlash.
• MAGA activists and conservative commentators point to Trump’s $15 million defamation settlement with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos as a model for suing AOC.
• White House Communications Director Steven Cheung branded the congresswoman’s remarks as evidence of “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and attacked her credibility.
• No defamation lawsuit has been filed by the president to date, underscoring uncertainty over potential legal action.
• Under New York Times v. Sullivan, Trump would need to show AOC acted with actual malice, and critics highlight he was never criminally convicted of rape.