ABC News Suspends Terry Moran After Controversial Tweet
Staff at ABC News have expressed feelings of shock and disappointment over the suspension of Terry Moran, particularly since it followed remarks aimed at President Donald Trump and his vice-chief of staff, Stephen Miller. An employee mentioned that it was an unexpected situation for the network, causing quite the stir both internally and externally.
The controversy arose after Moran’s tweet drew significant backlash against Trump and Miller, leading to his suspension. Having been with the network since 1997, the incident caused ABC executives to take action as the tweet went viral overnight.
“No one agrees with the suspension,” said ABC News staff members to Fox News Digital, indicating a sense of collective support for Moran. They commented that despite this situation, the network had managed to maintain a dialogue with the administration, highlighting a previous interview Moran had conducted with Trump shortly after his inauguration.
One staff member defended Moran, stating, “People love Terry here. It was a foolish move at a time when our credibility is crucial.” They lamented how such tweets can undermine the efforts of the entire journalism community to build trust with the public, adding, “It sucks. It’s really awful.”
Moran’s now-deleted tweet, sent out just after midnight, was deemed problematic, prompting actions from White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt. ABC News staff voiced concern that further missteps could have damaging repercussions.
Additionally, the network’s history of legal issues with Trump—such as the $15 million settlement for a defamation lawsuit last year—has heightened the sensitivity of such situations.
The Backstory
Moran’s critical views on Trump are not new; they date back to 2017. This latest incident coincided with a previous interview where Trump criticized him directly, calling it a significant opportunity on Moran’s part. During that interview, tensions escalated as Trump expressed distrust toward Moran and challenged his questioning style.
In his deleted post, Moran criticized Miller, implying that he embodied a kind of hatred that Trump also embraced. ABC News later issued a statement reinforcing its commitment to objective reporting, confirming that Moran’s comments did not align with the network’s standards, leading to his suspension.
Moran has not publicly commented on his suspension. This event underscores the ongoing struggle for media organizations to maintain credibility amid a landscape marked by public skepticism; according to a Gallup survey, only 31% of Americans trust the media to accurately report the news.
