Former ABC News correspondent Terry Moran criticized CBS’s “60 Minutes” on Monday, November 3, 2025, for its recent interview with President Donald Trump, pointing out insufficient challenges to the president’s alleged authoritarian behavior and false statements.
While speaking on CNN’s “News Central,” Moran raised concerns over the timing and manner of the interview, which aired months after CBS’s parent company, Paramount, agreed to a controversial $16 million settlement with Trump. Trump reportedly boasted in an unaired segment about receiving significant financial compensation from the network, Moran stated.
Moran described the interview led by correspondent Norah O’Donnell as lacking significant scrutiny of the president’s remarks. Having interviewed Trump himself in late April, Moran highlighted the challenges involved in questioning the president but underscored the necessity for journalists to prioritize truthfulness.
In response to a question from CNN’s Boris Sanchez about potential challenges he would have raised, Moran acknowledged the difficulty Trump presents as a subject due to frequent falsehoods. Nevertheless, he emphasized that journalists should balance respect for the presidential office with their duty to uphold the truth.
“You don’t have to get in a fight with him. You don’t — you shouldn’t, right? You should treat him with the respect that the office deserves and that the people elected him deserve. But at the same time, you have to stand up to something because if you condone his falsehoods, that empowers him,” Moran said. “Every authoritarian in the book does this, and you can look it up, and that’s what he’s doing. So, I do think at some point, you have to stand up for what is true, even at the risk of displeasing Trump or your bosses.”
Moran expressed uncertainty regarding the influence of conservative journalist Bari Weiss, recently appointed as CBS News’ editor-in-chief, on the interview’s style. He noted her favorable coverage of the president in the past.
Moran’s critique comes from a journalist who faced professional repercussions for criticizing the Trump administration. ABC News chose not to renew Moran’s contract in June following his social media post labeling White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller a “world-class hater” and suggesting President Trump’s animosity was a tool for self-promotion.
ABC News suspended Moran immediately after the post, announcing two days later that it would not renew his contract. The network cited Moran’s social media activity as a violation of its policies on objectivity and impartiality, stressing it does not support personal attacks.
The incident drew criticism from Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, who described Moran’s post as “dripping with hatred” and urged the public to consider it when evaluating ABC’s coverage. Miller called it a “full public meltdown,” accusing journalists of feigning objectivity.
After leaving ABC News, where he had worked since 1997, Moran launched a SubStack newsletter and continued to defend his views on Miller, maintaining that Miller’s approach to policy is fundamentally harsh.
Moran’s career at ABC spanned nearly three decades, including roles as co-anchor of “Nightline” from 2005 to 2013 and chief foreign correspondent for five years. Most recently, he served as an anchor for ABC News Live and senior national correspondent, focusing on Supreme Court coverage.
The tension highlights the ongoing clash between the Trump administration and mainstream media. The White House has rigorously contested critical reporting, with Trump suing CBS over the “60 Minutes” interview with his 2024 opponent Kamala Harris. ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos settled another lawsuit with Trump in December, paying $15 million after Trump accused Stephanopoulos of defamation.