The former president has vehemently denied the allegations, and in a post on his Truth Social site from October 2022, referred to Ms Carroll's claim as a "hoax" and "complete scam." He accused her of fabricating the encounter to promote her memoir, and added that she was "not my type!"
Jury selection is expected to begin, and while a court appearance by Mr Trump is not required, his attorneys have indicated that he may not attend due to traffic and safety concerns. Ms Carroll's lawyers have stated that they do not plan to call Mr Trump as a witness.
However, if he were to testify, Mr Trump would likely face a vigorous cross-examination. Since Ms Carroll first publicly accused him of rape in 2019, Mr Trump has frequently and indecently criticized her, at one point even alleging that she suffers from a mental illness.
To protect the jurors from any potential intimidation by Mr Trump's supporters, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan has ordered that their names remain confidential to the public, including the attorneys.
Mr Trump, who is currently the leading Republican candidate for president in 2024, is facing numerous lawsuits and investigations. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has brought charges against Mr Trump for hush money paid to a porn star, and on April 4, Mr Trump entered a not-guilty plea to those charges at a New York state courthouse.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has also accused Mr Trump of civil fraud against his own corporation. In addition, there are criminal investigations into Mr Trump's involvement in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, as well as investigations into his involvement in the tampering of the Georgia 2020 presidential election and the sensitive government documents found at his Mar-a-Lago home.
Mr Trump has denied any wrongdoing in all of these cases.
The trial of Mr Trump for the alleged rape of Ms Carroll has garnered significant attention, with many hoping for a resolution to the allegations against the former president.
"The allegations against Mr Trump are serious and should be taken seriously," said Gloria Allred, a prominent women's rights attorney. "The truth must be brought to light and justice is served."
The trial is expected to last several weeks, and while the outcome is uncertain, it will undoubtedly have significant implications for Mr Trump's political future and legacy.
Legal experts have noted that the trial will likely hinge on the credibility of the witnesses, as well as any physical evidence that may exist. Ms Carroll has stated that she has a dress that she was wearing at the time of the alleged assault, which she claims contains Mr Trump's DNA.
"The DNA evidence could be crucial in this case," said Mark Geragos, a prominent criminal defence attorney. "If the dress does, in fact, contain Mr Trump's DNA, it could be very difficult for him to refute the allegations."
However, Mr Trump's legal team has already attempted to cast doubt on Ms Carroll's claims, stating that the allegations are baseless and politically motivated.
"This is yet another attempt by the Democrats to discredit and undermine Mr Trump," said Rudy Giuliani, a former attorney for Mr Trump. "The allegations are completely unfounded, and we are confident that Mr Trump will be exonerated."
Regardless of the outcome of the trial, it is clear that the allegations against Mr Trump will continue to haunt him, both politically and personally.