Last week, former ABC News reporter Terry Moran acknowledged that his longtime workplace displayed a bias against President Donald Trump, attributing it to a lack of differing viewpoints in the newsroom. Moran, who dedicated close to 28 years to the network, was let go in June 2025 after making social media posts that criticized Trump and White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller.
On Tuesday, July 30, 2025, Moran addressed the issue on his Substack, responding to concerns about bias within traditional news organizations. He stated that ABC News experienced the same challenge seen across many prominent American institutions: a shortage of political diversity among its employees.
Moran noted that, although ABC News had made strides in diversifying in several areas since he started, it fell short when it came to ideological diversity. Few Trump supporters, if any, worked at the network—a fact he described as an open secret.
He argued that this lack of political variety inevitably influenced how stories were reported, though not necessarily because of intentional prejudice. Instead, he described it as a kind of unawareness, where established newsrooms failed to recognize the perspectives of many Americans simply because no one in the newsroom represented those viewpoints.
Moran likened the way traditional journalists covered Trump rallies to conducting a science experiment, saying that reporters would approach attendees with cameras and microphones, but their coverage often missed the mark. “To me, it often felt oddly anthropological and off-base, similar to studying animal behavior by going to a zoo,” he stated.
Despite being ultimately dismissed for his anti-Trump posts, Moran revealed he often acted as a devil’s advocate at ABC News. He shared that colleagues saw him as someone who tried to help others understand opposing views and recognize the democratic forces that elevated Trump’s political profile.
Moran’s exit from ABC News followed social media posts he wrote on Sunday, June 8, 2025, sharply criticizing Miller and Trump. In now-removed messages, he accused Miller of possessing a deep capacity for hatred and labeled both Miller and Trump as experts in hate. Moran went further, suggesting that hatred was a source of spiritual sustenance for Miller.
The White House responded quickly, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemning Moran’s comments as irrational and unacceptable. The administration reached out to ABC News to inquire about how the network would address Moran’s remarks.
ABC News first suspended Moran to review the situation, stating that his comments violated network standards and did not represent the organization’s opinions. The network reaffirmed its commitment to unbiased reporting and made it clear that it does not support personal attacks.
Two days after the suspension, ABC News said it would not renew Moran’s contract. The announcement came only six weeks after Moran had interviewed Trump in a widely viewed special marking the president’s first 100 days after returning to office.
In later interviews, Moran stood by his social media posts, telling The New York Times that one should never regret speaking the truth. He clarified that he was not under the influence when posting, noting that he had considered his words throughout the day before sharing them publicly.
Following his departure, Moran launched his Substack newsletter, Real Patriotism with Terry Moran, announcing that he would continue to report and conduct interviews while directly engaging with subscribers—joining a growing number of former television journalists moving to independent platforms.
Moran disputed ABC News’ account of his contract, insisting that there had been a verbal understanding for a three-year extension. At the time he began his Substack, his lawyers were reportedly in discussions to settle his exit and severance package.
Moran’s firing came amid broader conversations about media bias in major news organizations. By admitting ABC News lacked viewpoint diversity, he contributed to ongoing debates about political representation in newsrooms at prominent television networks and legacy media institutions.