Donald Trump's team was "very surprised" by the $83.3 million damages ruling in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, and those close to the former president see a need to recalibrate their approach, according to a reporter on Saturday.
The Guardian's Hugh Lowell appeared on MSNBC's Alex Witt Reports, where he was asked about how Lowell's sources close to Trump viewed the recent Carroll decision. The host asked him if the massive number is "even being seen as something that will effectively rein Donald Trump."
"The answer is no. It won't be a deterrent," Lowell said, before explaining Trump world's perspective on things.
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"The way they are looking at it is, basically, is, 'We got caught flat-footed, we need to care recalibrate.' This is part of the thinking from inside Trump's camp," he said. "He still needs to respond to the E. Jean Carroll case for his base, for his supporters, because he wants to look defiant. But they also don't want another defamation suit."
In terms of team Trump's response, he said "they were very surprised by the award."
"They did not expect anything close to 83 million. they were looking at the 5 million, they were thinking closer to that," he explained. "I think what they will do is recalibrate. I think we've seen this in previous instances where he's been held accountable with a gag order."
The reporter continued, "He starts going right up to the line, but doesn't quite cross it. And I assume that this is the thing that his team is looking at doing, where they can respond in kind without actually prompting another defamation suit."
