U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he feels “badly” for seven current and former male Cornell University students facing sexual assault and rape allegations from a former female student, claiming they “won’t get a fair shake.”
During an October 2 exchange with reporters outside the White House, Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked Trump about New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to appoint state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor for the Cornell rape case. James, who previously spearheaded a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump, was repeatedly labeled as corrupt by the former president, who stated he feels “badly” for anyone she prosecutes because they allegedly will not receive a fair trial.
In early October, online discussions quickly spread regarding remarks reportedly made by U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he expressed sympathy for seven current or former male Cornell University students facing accusations of sexual assault and rape brought by a former student.
Reports indicated that Trump made these comments while addressing New York Attorney General Letitia James’ appointment to serve as a special prosecutor overseeing the legal proceedings.
Concerned readers reached out to verify the authenticity of the quote, questioning whether the reports were accurate.
Verification confirms that the statement was indeed made by Trump. Footage from C-SPAN captures Trump speaking outside the White House on October 2 in response to a reporter’s inquiry about the Cornell case. He referred to James as corrupt multiple times and stated that he felt “badly” for anyone under her investigation, asserting they would be denied a fair process.
James’ history with Trump includes her role in initiating a civil fraud lawsuit against him and his associates in 2022, an action that resulted in frequent criticism from Trump across social media platforms.
In a statement provided via email, White House spokesperson Lauren Bis pointed back to Trump’s public remarks and noted the administration’s stance that James has utilized the legal system to unfairly target the president.
Background on the Investigation
The accuser, identified in legal filings as Jane Doe, alleges that the seven men assaulted her on October 19 and 20, 2024, at the Chi Phi fraternity house. She initiated a civil lawsuit in mid-September against the individuals, the university, and the fraternity.
On September 28, prosecutors in Tompkins County, New York, announced they were re-evaluating the criminal case, highlighting inconsistencies between the initial police statement and the claims made in the lawsuit.
Prior to Governor Hochul appointing James to the special prosecutor role on October 1, James shared a message of support for the accuser on social media, emphasizing solidarity with survivors of sexual assault.
Social media users quickly circulated the remarks following the October 2 press appearance. A popular Facebook post featured an image criticizing Trump’s focus on the accused individuals rather than the victim.
(Really American via Facebook)
Similar reactions and video clips spread across Bluesky, Facebook, and X. While some posts omitted mentions of James, they still featured the exchange between reporters and the president.
The dialogue captured on camera outside the White House featured Peter Doocy asking:
DOOCY: What do you think about New York’s governor appointing a special prosecutor in the Cornell rape case, Letitia James?
TRUMP: Letitia James is a corrupt person. She’s totally corrupt and I can’t imagine it. And, I feel badly for whoever she’s looking at because they won’t get a fair shake. But Letitia James is a corrupt person.
Full recordings of the press briefing are available via C-SPAN and YouTube.
Trump also addressed the situation during an earlier press gaggle on October 1, when asked whether Cornell University had done enough regarding the allegations. He responded that while he lacked detailed knowledge, he considered Cornell a reputable institution expected to handle the matter properly.
Additionally, Trump shared commentary on Truth Social, questioning the governor’s decision to assign James to the case.
Sources
Colton, Emma. “Letitia James Vows to Continue Targeting Trump after Years in the Courtroom: ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome.'” Fox News, Fox News, 10 Nov. 2024.
“District Attorney Statement Re: Jane Doe v. Cornell University, et Al.” Tompkins County, New York, 28 Sept. 2026.
Ibrahim, Nur. “What Has Happened to ‘Cornell 7’ after Lawsuit Accused Them of Rape?” Snopes, 2 Oct. 2026.
“JANE DOE, Plaintiff, against CORNELL UNIVERSITY, INC…” Courthouse News Service, 16 Sept. 2026.
Katersky, Aaron. “New York AG Letitia James Files $250M Lawsuit against Trump for Defrauding Lenders, Others.” ABC News, 21 Sept. 2022.
Mangan, Dan, and Kevin Breuninger. “Trump Half-Billion-Dollar Civil Fraud Fine Overturned by New York Appeals Court.” CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025.
“President Trump Gaggles with Press Upon Departure from the White House, Oct. 1, 2026.” YouTube, The White House, 1 Oct. 2026.
“President Trump Gaggles with Press Upon Departure from the White House, Oct. 2, 2026.” YouTube, The White House, 2 Oct. 2026.
“President Trump on New York Governor Naming Letitia James…” X, C-SPAN, 2 Oct. 2026.
“President Trump Responded to a Question about the Reopened…” X, CBS News, 1 Oct. 2026.
@realDonaldTrump. “Why Would the Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, Appoint…” Truth Social, 2 Oct. 2026.
Silva, Daniella. “‘I Am Jane Doe’: Cornell Case Spurs Women to Share Their Experiences of Sexual Assault on Campus.” NBC News, 2 Oct. 2026.
Willingham, Leah. “New York’s Governor Removes DA in Cornell Rape Allegations, Appoints AG Letitia James to Take Over.” The Associated Press, 1 Oct. 2026.