President Donald Trump has weighed in on the alleged gang rape of an ex-Cornell University student who claims she was abused for hours by members of a fraternity at a house party two years ago.
The young woman, identified as Jane Doe, is suing Cornell and the seven members of the Ivy League school’s Chi Phi fraternity house, alleging that she was pressured into taking ketamine and sexually assaulted for hours on October 19, 2024, at the house party in Ithaca, New York. She was 20 years old at the time.
The president was asked Thursday by a reporter whether the university had “done enough to investigate” the alleged sexual abuse after the institution came under fire for its response following Doe’s bombshell lawsuit, filed last week.
“Well, I don't know that much about it,” Trump began. “But Cornell's a fine school, and I'm sure they'll do what's right.”
Trump kept his comments on the case brief as he spoke to the press at the White House before departing for Texas and Oklahoma.
The president’s remark comes almost a year after his administration reached a $60 million agreement with Cornell to restore federal funding and end investigations into the school.
No arrests have been made in connection to the sexual assault case, and the local district attorney has said he is reopening the case in light of the civil suit. Attorneys for at least three of the men, whose images are plastered across social media, have issued statements denying criminal wrongdoing, while others have not made public statements.
Three weeks after the fraternity party, Doe reported the incident to the Cornell University Police Department, and an internal Title IX investigation began in January 2025 spanning several months, the university said.
Two of the seven male students accused were expelled by Cornell, according to Doe’s attorney. The others reportedly received lesser punishments that included suspensions and written essays.
Cornell pushed back against allegations that the school “did not impose consequential punishments for those involved” in its September 28 statement.
“None of the individuals charged were offered the opportunity to write essays as a sole consequence of their involvement,” said Kyle Kimball, vice president for university relations. “A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault.”
For those affected by rape and sexual abuse, if you are in the United States, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673).
Rape Crisis also offers support.You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk.
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