Leeds described feeling violated and traumatized by the encounter.She alleged that Trump later mocked and verbally harassed her during a subsequent meeting, saying, “I remember you,” followed by a derogatory term.
She criticized Trump’s perceived disregard for women and said, “The bottom line is that he does not understand that he is a sexual predator.” Leeds added, “He assaulted me 50 years ago and he continues to attack me today.” She also said she is deciding whether to sue him.
When asked whether she’ll pursue legal action against Trump related to his latest comments, Leeds told CNN that “we’re leaving all of our options open.” “But no, my goal when I was asked to testify at E. Jean’s trial was to establish that this is his behavior, longstanding, and I have nothing to gain from it,” she said.
She said that “it’s important to remind the voters of Trump’s disrespect of women.” “I was not the first, of course I was not the last. But there have been enough so that he doesn’t remember,” Leeds said, reported CNN.
The allegations resurfaced prominently after Trump made controversial remarks on Friday, which Leeds labeled as “bizarre.” Reflecting on the situation, Leeds admitted, “I must admit I did laugh. It’s a little spooky and a little difficult to process. He does seem to be kind of obsessed. But here I am.”
Leeds first publicly disclosed her accusation in 2016 during the presidential campaign, telling The New York Times that Trump groped her on a New York-bound flight.
She reportedly further detailed the alleged assault in 2023 during the federal trial of writer E. Jean Carroll, describing a disturbing scene: “He was grabbing my breasts… It was a tussling match between the two of us.”
Leeds also recounted a later encounter with Trump at a charity fundraiser, where he reportedly taunted her with the comment, “I remember you. You’re that cunt from the airplane.” She described this as a humiliating experience.
Trump, however, vehemently denied ever knowing Leeds and dismissed her claims. “Think of the impracticality of this,” he argued. “I’m famous, I’m in a plane, and I grab her and start kissing her? What are the chances of that happening? And frankly, I know you’re going to say it’s a terrible thing to say, but it couldn’t have happened. It didn’t happen.”
Trump also suggested the allegations were politically motivated, saying, “This is a disgraceful case… It’s disgraceful in particular because it’s about a former president of the United States who is now leading in the polls to be the president again and this is being worked with the DOJ, as are all of these cases.”
The stark contrast between Leeds’ detailed account and Trump’s denial continues to fuel a contentious public debate as both sides brace for further developments.