Disney owned ABC News has officially severed ties with longtime correspondent Terry Moran, just days after suspending him for a late-night social media post that blasted both President Donald Trump and his deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller.
A now deleted post from X by Terry Moran about President Trump and Stephen Miller – X, Terry Moran
The now-deleted post described Miller as a “world-class hater” whose “hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate.” Moran included Trump in the post as well, saying the president’s hatred was rooted in self-glorification.
Donald Trump speaks at a rally the night before being inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States of America – YouTube, Washington Post
ABC released a statement Tuesday explaining that Moran’s remarks violated newsroom policy and that the network had opted not to renew his contract, which was set to expire later this week.
“Based on his recent post — which was a clear violation of ABC News policies — we have made the decision not to renew,” the company said.
A Career Ends in Controversy
Terry Moran had been with ABC News since 1997, building a legacy that included anchoring Nightline, covering the Supreme Court, and reporting from the frontlines of American politics. Just a few weeks prior to his suspension, Moran sat down with President Trump for a nationally televised prime-time interview that turned confrontational when Trump accused him of being unfair, saying, “you’re not being very nice.”
The ABC News interview between Terry Moran and President Trump – YouTube, ABC News
Moran’s post was not only a violation of ABC’s policies but also came at an exceptionally sensitive time for the network—one when public missteps carry heightened political and financial risk.
Trump White House Responds Swiftly and Forcefully
The Trump administration did not waste time responding to Moran’s remarks. Vice President J.D. Vance called the post “absolutely vile,” while Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt slammed it as “unhinged and unacceptable.”
Terry Moran interviews President Donald Trump – YouTube, ABC News
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Trump aide Steven Cheung offered a more direct response on X, writing that those who publicly insult the president and his team “get hit.” The statements reflect a renewed willingness from the administration to push back hard against perceived media bias, especially as Trump enters a second term with growing influence over corporate media dynamics.
A Broader Strategy at Disney?
The firing of Terry Moran isn’t happening in a vacuum. It comes just months after Disney agreed to pay $15 million toward Trump’s presidential library to settle a high-profile defamation lawsuit against ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos. That lawsuit was triggered by Stephanopoulos falsely stating in a March 2024 report that Trump had been found liable for a horrific crime in the E. Jean Carroll civil trial.
As part of the settlement, Disney not only paid the library funds but also issued a public correction and shelled out an additional $1 million to cover Trump’s legal fees. The payout raised eyebrows in both political and journalistic circles, with some speculating it marked a turning point in how Disney plans to handle conflict with the Trump administration moving forward.
Bob Iger via New York Times Events YouTube
The fallout with ABC comes as Trump is simultaneously embroiled in a separate media standoff—this time with CBS News.
The president has publicly blasted CBS for what he called “blatant election interference,” citing a 60 Minutes interview with former vice president Kamala Harris that he claims was edited to make Harris look better.
That conflict has reportedly thrown a wrench into the proposed merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, with insiders saying Trump’s vocal opposition to CBS has raised serious political and regulatory red flags.
A Calculated Effort to Avoid More Legal Landmines
Given this backdrop, Moran’s removal appears to be more than just a reaction to a single post. It reflects a broader strategy by Disney and ABC News to minimize political exposure and avoid triggering another costly legal battle.
The network’s swift action against a decades-long employee—especially one who had just landed a high-profile Trump interview—suggests a zero-tolerance policy may now be in effect for political commentary that strays beyond objective reporting, particularly when it risks antagonizing the White House.
U.S. President Donald Trump sits for an interview with ABC News – YouTube, ABC News
Whether this marks a permanent cultural shift inside ABC News or just a temporary recalibration in the shadow of recent lawsuits remains to be seen. But for now, Disney appears to be playing it safe—and making clear that, in this new political era, even veteran journalists aren’t immune to the consequences of pressing the administration too hard on personal terms.
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