The Trump admin is no stranger to a hostile mainstream media. But sometimes the latter goes way too far.
As a high-ranking Trump admin official was just brutally attacked by an ABC News host who immediately regretted everything.
ABC News Suspends Correspondent After Attack on Trump Aide Sparks Outrage
ABC News suspended national correspondent Terry Moran on Sunday following his inflammatory attack on White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, according to multiple reports. The suspension came hours after Moran posted and then deleted a message on X early Sunday morning, labeling Miller “a world-class hater.” The swift response from ABC followed public criticism from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who called for accountability from the network.
Leavitt addressed the issue on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with host Maria Bartiromo. “ABC is going to have to answer for what their, again, so-called journalist put out on Twitter in the wee hours of the night, calling Stephen Miller vile,” Leavitt said. “They said that President Trump is a world class hater – Stephen Miller. And this is, again, coming from someone who is supposed to be an unbiased and professional journalist.” Her remarks emphasize the Trump administration’s frustration with what they perceive as biased media coverage.
Moran’s now-deleted post drew sharp rebuke from Vice President JD Vance, who took to X to condemn the correspondent’s remarks. Vance shared a screenshot of Moran’s original message, calling it an “absolutely vile smear” dripping with hatred. “An ABC journalist, @TerryMoran, posted this absolutely vile smear of Stephen Miller. It’s dripping with hatred,” Vance wrote. “Remember that every time you watch ABC’s coverage of the Trump administration.”
Last night, in a since deleted post, so-called “journalist” @TerryMoran went on a rampage against Stephen Miller and called President Trump “a world class hater.”
This is unhinged and unacceptable.
We have reached out to @ABC to inquire about how they plan to hold Terry… pic.twitter.com/HsgusJEIvH
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) June 8, 2025
Vance went on to defend Miller’s character and motivations. “As it happens, I know Stephen quite well. And he’s motivated by love of country. He’s motivated by a fear that people like Terry Moran make rules that normal Americans have to follow, but well-connected people don’t,” Vance continued. “It’s why he fought so hard to get President Trump elected and why he works to [sic] hard to implement the agenda. ABC should apologize to Stephen. What Terry posted is disgraceful.”
Miller himself responded to Moran’s attack on X, framing it as indicative of deeper issues within the media. “The most important fact about Terry’s full public meltdown is what it shows about the corporate press in America,” Miller posted. “For decades, the privileged anchors and reporters narrating and gatekeeping our society have been radicals adopting a journalist’s pose. Terry pulled off his mask.” His comments reflect a sentiment within the Trump administration that mainstream media outlets harbor ideological biases.
This is not the first instance of Moran clashing with the Trump administration. During an Oval Office interview with President Trump, Moran pressed the president to contact El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to secure the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 gang member. Abrego Garcia was later brought back to the United States to face human trafficking charges in a federal court in Nashville.
An ABC journalist @TerryMoran posted this absolutely vile smear of Stephen Miller. It’s dripping with hatred. Remember that every time you watch ABC’s coverage of the Trump administration.
As it happens, I know Stephen quite well. And he’s motivated by love of country. He’s… pic.twitter.com/hX93zKTWjy
— JD Vance (@JDVance) June 8, 2025
ABC News has faced prior criticism for its coverage of President Trump. During the 2024 presidential election’s sole debate, hosted by ABC, moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir were accused of disproportionately fact-checking Trump compared to then-Vice President Kamala Harris. According to Check Your Fact, Harris made several misstatements, including on abortion and Project 2025, but the moderators did not interrupt or correct her during the debate.
The network has also been embroiled in legal battles tied to its reporting. ABC settled a defamation lawsuit filed by President Trump after This Week host George Stephanopoulos referred to Trump as a “r*pist” during a heated March 2024 interview with Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina. The settlement marked a significant moment in the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and major media outlets.
Moran’s suspension has reignited discussions about journalistic impartiality, particularly in the context of the Trump administration’s relationship with the press. The administration has long argued that corporate media networks, including ABC, exhibit prejudice in their reporting, a charge that gained traction following Moran’s remarks.
The incident also highlights the role of social media in amplifying disputes between public figures and journalists. Moran’s decision to delete his post did little to quell the backlash, as screenshots circulated widely, prompting responses from both Vance and Miller.
In addition to his comments about Miller, Moran’s prior interactions with the administration have drawn scrutiny. His demand that Trump facilitate the return of an alleged MS-13 member points to the contentious dynamic between the correspondent and the administration’s hardline stance on immigration and crime.
ABC’s history of legal and public relations challenges with the Trump administration adds context to the current controversy. The defamation lawsuit settled earlier this year remains a point of contention, with Trump and his supporters citing it as evidence of media overreach. ABC earlier this year had agreed to pay Donald Trump a $15 million settlement as a result of a defamation lawsuit.
🚨 BREAKING: ABC news agrees to pay Trump $15 million in his defamation lawsuit
Liberals are NOT happy about this 🤣
— MAGA Posts (@MAGAPosts) May 2, 2025
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
