Long-time ABC News correspondent Terry Moran has been ousted from the network following a controversial social media post criticizing President Trump and White House adviser Stephen Miller.
According to Breitbart, the 28-year veteran of the network had his contract terminated after publishing what critics described as an "unhinged rant" on social media platform X.
Moran, 65, who served as ABC's senior correspondent, published and later deleted a post that personally attacked both Trump and Miller, describing the latter as having "the capacity for hatred" and being "a world-class hater." The post violated ABC News standards for objectivity and impartiality, according to the network's statement.
The controversy began when Moran published his thoughts about Miller on X last week, writing that Miller "is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred" and claiming "he eats his hate." In the same post, Moran also characterized President Trump as "a world-class hater."
After the post gained attention, ABC News quickly suspended Moran, stating: "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 was shortly followed by termination, with ABC News announcing they had "made the decision not to renew" Moran's contract, which they noted was coincidentally expiring around the same time as the incident. The timing of the contract expiration provided the network an opportunity to part ways with the controversial correspondent.
President Trump's team demanded accountability from ABC News following Moran's comments, particularly given the network's recent history with the president. The network had previously paid $15 million to Trump in a defamation settlement, making them particularly sensitive to potential conflicts.
The termination came just two weeks after a notable interview where Trump and Moran had a contentious exchange, adding context to the already strained relationship between the correspondent and the administration. This timing further fueled speculation about underlying tensions that may have contributed to Moran's public outburst.
According to Breitbart columnist John Nolte, Moran's firing represents another example of media personalities experiencing career difficulties during Trump's second term. Nolte characterized these departures as Trump's "epic schlonging of the worst people in the world (the corporate media)."
Moran joins what Breitbart describes as a growing list of media figures who have departed major networks and publications since Trump began his second term in office. The article lists 21 other prominent journalists and commentators who have either been terminated, resigned, or been reassigned in recent months.
Notable names on this list include Paul Krugman from the New York Times, Jim Acosta from CNN, Chuck Todd from NBC, Joy Reid from MSNBC, and Lester Holt, who departed as NBC Nightly News anchor. The report suggests these departures represent a broader shift in the media landscape during Trump's presidency.
The list also includes Washington Post columnists Ruth Marcus, Jennifer Rubin, and Eugene Robinson, along with several MSNBC personalities who have lost their shows or been reassigned. According to the Breitbart article, approximately one-third of the New York Times Editorial Board has also departed.
ABC News has maintained that their decision was based strictly on Moran's violation of company standards regarding objectivity in reporting. The network emphasized their commitment to impartial coverage in their statement about the termination.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between traditional media organizations and their approach to covering the Trump administration, with networks attempting to balance journalistic standards with increasingly polarized political discourse. Moran's termination comes amid criticism from conservatives that mainstream media outlets exhibit bias in their coverage.
For Moran, the end of his 28-year career at ABC came swiftly after what Breitbart characterized as a "public meltdown" and "career-fatal case of Trump Derangement Syndrome." The senior correspondent had been a familiar face to ABC viewers for nearly three decades before the controversial social media post ended his tenure.
