Trump Criticizes ABC News Correspondent
President Donald Trump expressed his discontent with ABC News Chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Carl on Tuesday, claiming that Carl harbors “a lot of hatred” in his heart.
This criticism came as Trump was speaking to reporters prior to his departure on a Marine One flight from the White House to the UK. Carl had posed a question regarding Attorney General Pam Bondy’s stance on hate speech allegations.
“What would Pam Bondi say about going after hate speech? Many people, including some of your allies, argue that hate speech should be considered free speech,” Carl asked.
In response, Trump remarked, “She’s probably going to target people like you because you’re not treating me fairly, which indicates hatred. You really have a lot of hatred in your heart.”
He further added, “Your network has paid $16 million related to hate speech issues, so perhaps they should turn their focus toward you. We aim for fairness, but it hasn’t been equitable. The radical left has caused significant harm to the nation, but we’ve addressed that,” he said.
Trump had previously filed a lawsuit against ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos in March 2024, alleging defamation. Reports indicate that ABC News ultimately agreed to a settlement of $15 million, which included covering Trump’s legal fees and issuing a public apology.
During an interview with Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) on March 10, Stephanopoulos raised a related question. Carl’s inquiry referenced comments made by Attorney General Pam Bondy, who had stated that “hate speech that crosses into threats of violence is not protected by the First Amendment.”
Bondy clarified, “You cannot call for someone to be harmed; you cannot attack lawmakers, nor can you expose conservative families and expect it to be protected as free speech. Such actions are criminal and will be addressed legally,” she noted.
In a recent episode of the Katy Miller Podcast aired before Bondy’s tweet, she asserted that the Justice Department would actively pursue individuals involved in “hate speech.”
“We are definitely targeting you. If you’re engaging in hate speech, we will follow up. This approach applies to everyone,” she stated.
