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5 Shocking Facts About The Trump Vs. Exonerated Five Defamation Lawsuit And The 1989 Ad That Started It All

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The decades-old controversy involving Donald Trump and the five men wrongfully convicted in the 1989 Central Park jogger case—now known as the Exonerated Five—has exploded back into the public eye, fueled by an active, high-stakes defamation lawsuit. As of late 2025, a federal judge has decisively rejected a major effort by former President Trump to dismiss the case, ensuring that this racially charged legal and political battle will continue to unfold in the courts and on the national stage. The lawsuit is a direct consequence of Trump’s repeated refusal to acknowledge the men’s exoneration, particularly his defamatory statements made during a recent 2024 presidential debate.

This saga is not just a historical footnote; it is a live political and legal drama that highlights deep-seated issues of racial injustice, media power, and accountability. The Exonerated Five—Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise—are seeking to hold Trump accountable for his decades-long campaign of public slander, which began with a notorious full-page newspaper advertisement calling for their execution, even after their exoneration. This definitive guide breaks down the most crucial and shocking facts you need to know about the case and its enduring legacy.

The Exonerated Five: A Brief Biography and Historical Context

The story of the Exonerated Five is one of profound injustice, wrongful conviction, and ultimate vindication, set against the backdrop of a racially charged New York City in the late 1980s. Their lives were irrevocably altered by a crime they did not commit.

  • Antron McCray: Arrested at age 15. After his exoneration, McCray has focused on rebuilding his life and family, often speaking about the trauma of his youth and the need for criminal justice reform.
  • Kevin Richardson: Arrested at age 14. He has become an advocate for the wrongfully convicted, sharing his story to highlight systemic failures in the justice system.
  • Yusef Salaam: Arrested at age 15. Salaam has emerged as a prominent voice, running for and winning a seat on the New York City Council, turning his personal tragedy into a political platform for change.
  • Raymond Santana: Arrested at age 14. Santana co-founded the "Exonerated Five Foundation" and has been a vocal activist, focusing on the intersection of race and the legal system.
  • Korey Wise: Arrested at age 16. Wise was the only one of the five tried as an adult and served the longest sentence—nearly 13 years. His story was a central focus of the Netflix series When They See Us. He is a powerful symbol of resilience and the devastating impact of wrongful incarceration.

In 1989, the five Black and Latino teenagers were accused and convicted of the brutal rape and assault of a white female jogger in Central Park. Their convictions were based on coerced confessions and a lack of physical evidence. In 2002, the convictions were vacated after DNA evidence and a confession from the actual perpetrator, Matias Reyes, proved their innocence. Despite the exoneration, Donald Trump has consistently refused to retract his earlier statements.

1. The Infamous 1989 Full-Page Ad and the Call for Execution

Donald Trump's initial involvement in the Central Park Five case was unprecedented and highly inflammatory. In May 1989, mere weeks after the arrests, Trump took out a full-page, $85,000 ad in four major New York newspapers, including The New York Times and The Daily News.

The ad, emblazoned with the headline "BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY. BRING BACK OUR POLICE!" demanded that the state "execute the murderers" and "destroy the animals" who committed the crime. This public pressure campaign occurred before the trial had even begun, creating a toxic environment that many legal experts and commentators believe prejudiced the case and fueled the rush to judgment. The ad is now viewed as a historic example of a wealthy private citizen using media power to influence a high-profile criminal case, contributing to a miscarriage of justice that sent five innocent boys to prison.

2. Trump's Decades-Long Refusal to Apologize and Retract

Despite the official exoneration in 2002, which included a confession from the actual attacker and matching DNA evidence, Donald Trump has never apologized for his 1989 actions or his rhetoric.

Even after the city settled a massive $41 million civil lawsuit with the Exonerated Five in 2014, Trump maintained his stance, suggesting the settlement was a "disgrace" and that the men were still guilty. His continued insistence on their guilt, even in the face of irrefutable evidence, is a central theme of the current legal battle. When asked directly by a reporter in 2019 about an apology, Trump stated, "You have people on both sides of that. They admitted their guilt." This persistent denial of the facts is what ultimately led to the current defamation lawsuit.

3. The Crux of the Defamation Lawsuit: The 2024 Debate Comments

The latest and most critical development is the defamation lawsuit filed by the Exonerated Five against Donald Trump. The suit was triggered by statements Trump made during a heated presidential debate in September 2024 with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

During the debate, Harris criticized Trump for taking out the full-page ad calling for the execution of the innocent men. In his defense, Trump reiterated his false claims, attempting to justify his 1989 stance by falsely claiming the men had "pled guilty." The lawsuit argues that these statements were knowingly false and defamatory, causing further harm to the men who have already endured decades of trauma and public scrutiny. The Exonerated Five are seeking damages for the continued psychological and professional injury caused by Trump's public slander.

4. Federal Judge Rejects Trump's Motion to Dismiss

In a significant victory for the Exonerated Five, a federal judge recently rejected Donald Trump's motion to dismiss the defamation lawsuit.

Trump's legal team had sought to have the case thrown out, arguing that his comments were protected political speech or that the statute of limitations had expired. However, the judge's ruling allows the case to proceed, indicating that the court believes the Exonerated Five have a viable claim that Trump's statements were made with "actual malice"—the legal standard required for defamation against public figures. This ruling is a major hurdle for Trump and ensures that the sensitive details of the case, including Trump's intent and knowledge of the facts, will likely be examined through the discovery process and potentially a public trial.

5. The Exonerated Five’s Public Warning: "He Has Never Changed"

The Exonerated Five have become powerful, unified voices against what they view as Trump's consistent disregard for truth and racial justice. They have used their platform, including appearances at the Democratic National Convention, to issue a stark warning about the former President.

In their public statements, they have emphasized that Trump's actions in 1989 and his continued refusal to apologize today are indicative of a deeper, unchanging character flaw. Yusef Salaam, now a New York City Councilman, and the other members have repeatedly stated that Trump's actions are a clear example of his willingness to weaponize racial fear and misinformation for personal or political gain. Their collective message is clear: "He has never changed and he never will." This warning transforms the legal dispute into a crucial political and moral commentary on accountability in public life.

Topical Authority and The Enduring Legacy of Injustice

The ongoing legal battle between Donald Trump and the Exonerated Five is more than a simple defamation case; it is a profound intersection of power, race, and justice in American history. The case has generated significant topical authority due to its connections to core themes in the modern discourse:

  • Wrongful Conviction: Highlighting the systemic flaws that lead to innocent people, particularly minorities, being incarcerated.
  • Racial Justice: The case remains a touchstone for discussions on racial bias in policing and the media's role in perpetuating negative stereotypes.
  • Media Accountability: The 1989 ad serves as a textbook example of how media influence can subvert the judicial process.
  • Political Rhetoric: Trump's continued comments illustrate the use of historical falsehoods for political ends.
  • Legal Precedent: The defamation lawsuit could set a significant precedent regarding the accountability of public figures for statements made about exonerated individuals.

As the lawsuit moves forward, the world watches to see if the Exonerated Five will finally achieve a measure of justice and accountability for the decades of slander they have endured. Their fight is a powerful reminder that exoneration is not always the end of the story, and that the battle for truth often continues long after the prison gates have opened.

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