For decades, ABC News has been a mainstay in political journalism, often navigating turbulent waters when it comes to covering high-profile figures like Donald Trump. In an age where a single social media post can make national headlines, the intersection of journalism and online expression has become increasingly fraught. This week, that tension boiled over again.
Terry Moran, a respected veteran of ABC News, has been suspended following a now-deleted tweet that criticized both former President Donald Trump and Stephen Miller, his former Deputy Chief of Staff.
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In the now-deleted June 7 post, Moran wrote:
The thing about Stephen Miller is not that he is the brains behind Trumpism. Yes, he is one of the people who conceptualizes the impulses of the Trumpist movement and translates them into policy. But that’s not what’s interesting about Miller. It’s not brains. It’s bile. Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred. He’s a world-class hater. You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate. Trump is a world-class hater. But his hatred only a means to an end, and that end is his own glorification. That’s his spiritual nourishment.
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ABC News issued a swift response, stating to The Hollywood Reporter:
ABC News stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage and does not condone subjective personal attacks on others. The post does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards — as a result, Terry Moran has been suspended pending further evaluation.
The suspension follows a broader history of friction between Trump and ABC News. During the 2024 presidential debate cycle, Trump accused moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir of treating him unfairly for fact-checking his statements in real time. He’s also gone as far as calling on Disney CEO Bob Iger to “fire everybody” at ABC.
That animosity isn’t limited to debate stages. Earlier this year, Trump sued ABC News over comments made by George Stephanopoulos, who stated during an interview that Trump had been found “liable for rape.” In reality, the ruling was for sexual abuse, a legal distinction under New York law. The lawsuit was settled for $16 million, and ABC chose to renew Stephanopoulos’ contract afterward.
In contrast, Moran’s case has drawn a different reaction from the network, potentially because of the post’s personal tone and timing. Moran’s tweet came after Trump announced he would deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to suppress protests surrounding ICE raids.
California Governor Gavin Newsom denounced the move and threatened legal action, criticizing Trump for making the situation worse.
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Moran’s long tenure at ABC includes high-profile assignments that have made him a familiar face to American audiences. He served as Chief White House Correspondent from 1999 to 2005 before moving on to co-anchor Nightline until 2013. He later became Chief Foreign Correspondent and now serves as Senior National Correspondent.
Notably, this incident isn’t Moran’s first brush with controversy involving Trump. In a tense interview conducted earlier this spring, Moran asked Trump what the Declaration of Independence meant to him. Trump replied, saying it symbolized “unity and love and respect” — a response that visibly surprised Moran. Critics were quick to point out that the document actually marked a formal rebellion.
During the same interview, the two clashed over Kimlar Abrego Garcia, a man wrongly imprisoned in El Salvador. Trump insisted Garcia had gang ties and even presented a photo as evidence. Moran quickly challenged the authenticity of the photo, stating it had clearly been doctored.
Trump dismissed the objection and quipped that Moran was getting the “big break of a lifetime,” seemingly unaware of his decades-long reporting career.
Though the network has not stated how long the suspension will last, the move comes at a critical time. ABC and its parent company, Disney, have already faced pressure from the Federal Communications Commission, where Chairman Brendan Carr has launched multiple investigations and even threatened the company’s broadcast license.
Internally, Disney executives are said to be trying to strike a balance between journalistic freedom and risk management. Bob Iger, who has been involved in high-profile editorial decisions, reportedly told The View hosts to ease up on their Trump critiques in the wake of rising tensions.
In light of these developments, Moran’s tweet could be seen as both a personal misstep and a professional risk for a network already navigating delicate political terrain. While some may view the suspension as a necessary measure to maintain objectivity, others argue that it raises concerns about journalists’ freedom to express personal views on major platforms.
This story continues to unfold as ABC evaluates next steps. Whether Moran will return remains to be seen.
What do you think? Was ABC right to suspend Terry Moran? Should news anchors be allowed to share candid opinions on social media, or do such actions compromise journalistic integrity? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
truth hurts, freedom of speech.
I see ABC caved to Trump. Really, I thought you had more morals than that, but it is alright to let him go on YOUR network and do that same to everyone else? Double standard? This speaks volumes of ABC now.