ABC News has suspended veteran correspondent Terry Moran after he labeled top Trump advisor Stephen Miller a “world-class hater” in a scathing social media post that drew immediate backlash from the White House.
Key Takeaways
- ABC News suspended senior national correspondent Terry Moran for violating the network’s standards of objectivity after he called Stephen Miller a “world-class hater” in a now-deleted social media post.
- Vice President JD Vance condemned Moran’s comments as “an absolutely vile smear of Stephen Miller,” while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called them “unhinged and unacceptable.”
- The White House directly contacted ABC News demanding accountability, resulting in Moran’s suspension pending further evaluation.
- The incident has become a flashpoint in ongoing debates about media bias against the Trump administration and the appropriate boundaries for journalists expressing personal opinions.
Media Bias Exposed as ABC Takes Action Against Anti-Trump Reporter
ABC News has suspended senior national correspondent Terry Moran following his inflammatory social media post attacking Stephen Miller, a key advisor to President Trump. The network announced the disciplinary action after Moran described Miller as a “world-class hater” in a post on X that was quickly deleted but not before screenshots began circulating widely online. The post contained personal attacks against Miller that went far beyond the boundaries of objective journalism, prompting swift condemnation from the White House and conservative leaders.
In an official statement addressing the controversy, ABC News emphasized its commitment to journalistic standards: “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.”
White House Demands Accountability from Mainstream Media
The Trump administration responded forcefully to Moran’s attack, with Vice President JD Vance leading the charge. Vance characterized Moran’s comments as “an absolutely vile smear of Stephen Miller” and urged ABC to issue a formal apology to Miller. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement, as President Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to protests against Border Patrol operations, a policy initiative closely associated with Miller’s influence in the administration.
“What Terry posted is disgraceful,” said Vice President JD Vance, who called for immediate accountability from the network.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took an even stronger stance, describing Moran’s comments as “unhinged and unacceptable” during a Fox News interview where she revealed that the administration had directly contacted ABC News to demand action. Leavitt’s intervention underscores the administration’s commitment to challenging what many conservatives view as persistent media bias. The White House’s aggressive response ultimately succeeded in prompting ABC to take the rare step of suspending a senior correspondent.
Moran’s History of Anti-Trump Sentiment Comes to Light
This incident is not the first time Moran’s objectivity has been called into question. Despite his role as a senior national correspondent, Moran has frequently expressed outspoken views on politically sensitive topics. Earlier this year, Moran conducted a high-profile interview with President Trump that included contentious exchanges on immigration policy. During that interview, Trump memorably remarked: “Terry, they’re giving you the big break of a lifetime. You know, you are doing the interview. I picked you because, frankly, I never heard of you, but that’s OK.”
The suspension of Moran represents a rare instance of a mainstream media organization holding one of its journalists accountable for anti-Trump bias. The controversy has reinvigorated discussions about the increasingly blurred line between journalism and activism in today’s polarized media landscape. Conservative critics point to the incident as evidence of the deep-seated antipathy toward the Trump administration that exists within many newsrooms, even as those same organizations claim to uphold principles of objectivity and fairness in their reporting.
As ABC News continues its evaluation of Moran’s conduct, the incident serves as a potent reminder of the challenges facing traditional media outlets in maintaining credibility with audiences across the political spectrum. For many conservative viewers, the suspension, while appropriate, also confirms longstanding concerns about the personal biases that often influence coverage of the Trump administration and its policies.
