Veteran ABC News correspondent Terry Moran is defending his controversial social media post about Trump administration officials Stephen Miller and Donald Trump, maintaining that his characterization of Miller as a “world-class hater” was accurate despite leading to his termination after 28 years with the network.
Moran was suspended by ABC News on June 8 following a late-night post on X where he described Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff, as someone whose “hatreds are his spiritual nourishment” and who “eats his hate.” The post, published at 12:06 a.m., also labeled Trump as a “world-class hater” whose hatred serves as a means to his own glorification.
Two days after his suspension, ABC News announced it would not renew Moran’s contract, citing what it called a clear violation of network policies. The network stated it holds all reporters to the highest standards of objectivity, fairness and professionalism while remaining committed to delivering straightforward, trusted journalism.
In interviews with The New York Times and The Bulwark on Monday, Moran pushed back against suggestions that his post was impulsively written or alcohol-influenced. Moran described it as coming after a “normal family night” following a meditative walk with his family dog, dinner, and watching a movie with his children.
Moran disputed ABC’s characterization that his contract was set to expire, claiming the network was backing out of an oral agreement to extend his contract for another three years. He indicated that his lawyers are now in discussions with the network over the terms of his exit and severance package, telling The New York Times: “We had a deal.”
The controversy began when White House officials demanded ABC take action over what they called an “absolutely vile smear.” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt publicly pushed the network to discipline Moran, stating they had reached out to ABC to inquire about accountability measures. Vice President JD Vance also defended Miller on social media, calling for ABC to apologize.
Miller responded to Moran’s post by describing it as a “full public meltdown” that revealed what he characterized as the true nature of the corporate press in America. He suggested that privileged anchors and reporters have long been radicals adopting a journalist’s pose, claiming Moran had “pulled off his mask.”
During his interview with The Bulwark’s Tim Miller, Moran explained that he used very strong language deliberately because he viewed Miller as someone who degrades public discourse and uses White House power to “grind us down.” He described himself as a “Hubert Humphrey Democrat” focused on getting practical things done in a decent way while standing up for what’s right.
Moran argued that journalists should not sacrifice their citizenship, maintaining that objectivity is not the primary requirement for reporters. He emphasized that journalists must be fair and accurate rather than objective, defending his observation as both accurate and true despite acknowledging it was “very hot” material.
The firing has reportedly created significant anxiety within ABC News, with sources indicating that staff members are frantically deleting social media posts, emails, and other digital content out of fear that any material could be construed as anti-Trump and lead to additional terminations. One insider described the newsroom as being in “full-blown survival mode.”
Comedian Jon Stewart criticized ABC’s decision on his podcast “The Daily Show,” calling the network a joke for firing Moran. Stewart also referenced the network’s $16 million settlement with Trump over comments made by anchor George Stephanopoulos regarding the E. Jean Carroll case.
Following his termination, Moran launched a Substack newsletter where he plans to continue his journalism career independently. He announced that he has already gained over 90,000 subscribers, including thousands who purchased paid subscriptions at $5 monthly or $50 annually.
Moran had conducted a notable interview with Trump in the Oval Office in April, tied to the president’s first 100 days in office. During that interview, Trump became exasperated with Moran’s questioning style, telling him he was not being very nice and suggesting he should be less combative given the opportunity to interview the president.
The veteran correspondent, who served as ABC’s senior national correspondent and former Nightline anchor, joined the network in 1997. He previously worked as the network’s chief foreign correspondent and led coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court. Sources indicated he likely earned between $600,000 and $900,000 annually.
Moran expressed plans to continue his reporting work through his new platform, indicating interest in returning to Springfield, Ohio, to interview members of the Haitian community who became a focal point during the 2024 election. He emphasized his commitment to what he described as “important work” during what he characterized as a time of trouble for the country.