Ms Carroll, 80, is demanding more than $10 million (£7.87 million) in damages after claiming Trump harmed her reputation in a biography by accusing him of sexually abusing her in a department store dressing room.
Donald Trump testified for only three minutes on Thursday in a defamation hearing to decide how much he owes a writer for labeling her a liar after she accused him of sexual assault in 2019.
E Jean Carroll, 80, is suing for more than $10 million (£7.87 million) in damages after denying that he attacked her in a Manhattan shop in the mid-1990s while president of the United States.
She claimed Trump harmed her image when she accused him of sexually harassing her in 1996 in the dressing area of Bergdorf Goodman, a fancy department store.
US District Judge Lewis Kaplan imposed constraints on Trump’s testimony in the civil case.
The judge instructed jurors to consider the conclusions of another New York verdict that awarded Ms Carroll $5 million (£3.93 million) after ruling he sexually harassed her at the business and defamed her in a similar denial in October 2022.
The present trial in Manhattan federal court focuses solely on statements made by Trump in June 2019 while serving as president of the United States. These claims had been delayed for four years due to appeals.
During his brief testimony, Trump answered questions from his lawyer, Alina Habba.
According to the former president, Ms Carroll “said something I considered a false accusation”.
A lawyer for Ms Carroll objected, and Judge Kaplan instructed the jury to dismiss the comment.
Trump later stated, “I just wanted to defend myself, my family, and frankly, the presidency.”
That also drew an objection, and the judge instructed the jury to disregard it.
As Trump exited the New York courtroom, he shook his head and muttered, “This is not America. This isn’t America. “This isn’t America.”
Trump, 77, has rejected the allegations for the past five years and continues to target the former Elle columnist during the presidential election campaign.
Ms. Carroll was present when Trump was sworn in as a witness in court.
The former president, who won heavily in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday and the Iowa caucuses last week, appeared more subdued in court before his testimony than in past appearances.
Trump is also facing four criminal charges as the presidential primary season heats up.
He has been juggling court and campaign appearances, claiming that he is being hounded by Democrats.