The free publicity triggered by Mr. Trump ranting against the system (“This is not America”) fuels the MAGA message. At the end of the day, Mr. Trump may be a net winner from this entire defamation episode. Unabashedly, Mr. Trump raises funds off what he calls this “ridiculous” result. We struggle to understand Mr. Trump’s appeal, just as we struggle to realize that the E. Jean Carroll award will be steamrolled into a victory for Mr. Trump. David S. KasdanCortlandt Manor, N.Y.To the Editor:Re “Carroll Promises to Do ‘Something Good’ With a Fortune Won From Trump” (nytimes.com, Jan. 27):It’s wonderful that E. Jean Carroll plans to do “something good” with the $83 million Donald Trump has been ordered to pay her for his cruel and continuing defamatory conduct.

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Persons: Trump, Donald Trump, Jean Carroll, David S, “ Carroll Organizations: Mr, Trump Locations: America, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y