AOC Might Be in Legal Hot Water With Her Latest Trump Comments

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) drew immediate legal and public scrutiny on Friday after posting a statement on social media that referred to President Donald Trump as a “rapist,” a claim that critics say could constitute defamation.

The post was published on X, and directly tied Ocasio-Cortez’s accusation to the federal government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

“Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote.

Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files?

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 11, 2025

Trump’s Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

The post quickly sparked a wave of criticism from users on the platform, many of whom warned that the congresswoman could face legal consequences for the statement.

Some noted that public figures have previously been sued for making similar claims without a criminal conviction to support them.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

One user replied, “Very weird that none of those allegations came out until he was running for president. Also, I’m pretty sure this is libel and an easily winnable case at that.”

Another user wrote, “Given that other more high-profile commentators than you have called him that, and then been successfully sued, I think you’re in some difficulty here.”

A third response noted, “Donald Trump has not been criminally convicted of rape. As a congresswoman, with such a broad reach, you should be aware of this and act and speak appropriately. This is defamation.”

President Trump has never been convicted of rape or any criminal charge related to sexual assault.

The Department of Justice and state prosecutors have not brought such charges at any point during his time as a private citizen or as a public official.

This is not the first time Ocasio-Cortez has made this accusation against President Trump.

In January, prior to the 2025 inauguration, the New York congresswoman stated in a video posted to TikTok that she would not attend the event because she does not “celebrate rapists.”

In the video, Ocasio-Cortez said, “All these journalists are like, ‘Congresswoman, are you going to the inauguration? Congresswoman, are you going to the inauguration? Are you going to the inauguration?’”

She continued, “Let me make myself clear. I don’t celebrate rapists. So no, I’m not going to the inauguration tomorrow.”

AOC states that she is not attending Trump’s inauguration because she doesn’t celebrate “r*pists.”

I wish she will be sued! pic.twitter.com/USu6lS3yOK

— I Meme Therefore I Am (@ImMeme0) January 20, 2025

A report from The Hill noted at the time that the remarks appeared to be directed at President Trump, despite the lack of any criminal convictions.

The report further referenced the May 2023 civil trial involving writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual misconduct.

That jury found Trump not liable for rape under New York law.

The case, which stemmed from an alleged incident in the 1990s, was handled in civil court, not criminal court, and did not result in any criminal conviction.

Legal experts and political observers are now questioning whether Ocasio-Cortez’s recent public statements could expose her to defamation claims, given her position as a sitting member of Congress and the potential reach and influence of her comments.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.