ABC News has suspended Senior National Correspondent Terry Moran following a controversial social media post targeting White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. The post, which has since been deleted, drew swift attention and led to a public statement from the network, confirming the disciplinary action.
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
The suspension comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy 2,000 members of the California National Guard to Los Angeles for a 60-day operation. The move followed two days of violent unrest during protests against federal immigration enforcement. Several Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were injured during the disturbances, which Stephen Miller described as a “violent insurrection against the laws and sovereignty of the United States.”
In response to the administration’s actions, Moran made a personal post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that sharply criticized Miller. He referred to him as “richly endowed with the capacity for hatred” and added further commentary suggesting that Miller’s worldview was fueled by animosity. Moran’s post also included remarks about President Trump, asserting that while Trump uses hatred as a tool for self-promotion, Miller’s approach is more intrinsic and deeply rooted.
The post generated strong reactions and was widely circulated online before it was removed. ABC News issued a statement to Axios confirming Moran’s suspension, stating that the network “does not condone subjective personal attacks on others” and emphasizing its commitment to “objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage.”
Yo, @ABC’s @TerryMoran,
I’ve known @StephenM since he was a teenager at Santa Monica High.
He invited me to speak at his school and has been a guest on my radio show dozens of times over the years.
Please enlighten me.
When exactly did Stephen become “a world class hater”? pic.twitter.com/ACWPmAt6hh
— Larry Elder (@larryelder) June 8, 2025
The incident marks a significant moment for Moran, a veteran journalist who recently conducted a one-on-one interview with President Trump on April 29, 2025. The interview, which was part of the network’s ongoing political coverage, received considerable attention, but the recent social media controversy has now shifted focus to the journalist’s conduct off-camera.
In a public response to Moran’s comments, Stephen Miller said the post highlights what he sees as a broader issue within the mainstream media. “For decades, the privileged anchors and reporters narrating and gatekeeping our society have been radicals adopting a journalist’s pose,” he said in a post on X. “Terry pulled off his mask.”
Vice President J.D. Vance also weighed in, referring to Moran’s post as a “vile smear” and suggesting that viewers should keep the remarks in mind when watching ABC’s coverage of the Trump administration. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt similarly criticized Moran’s statements, calling them inappropriate for a journalist in his position.
.@PressSec Karoline Leavitt fired back after ABC News correspondent Terry Moran unleashed on top Trump admin official Stephen Miller in a now-deleted “unhinged and unacceptable” social media post. pic.twitter.com/YOMboA6Wx2
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 8, 2025
This controversy follows a major legal settlement between ABC News and President Trump in December. The network agreed to a $15 million defamation settlement after anchor George Stephanopoulos used the term “rape” in reference to a defamation and sexual abuse case involving writer E. Jean Carroll. That case had been heavily debated in the media and drew legal action from Trump’s legal team, who said the coverage was misleading.
As of now, ABC News has not confirmed how long Moran’s suspension will last or what further actions, if any, will be taken. The situation continues to draw attention from media analysts, political figures, and the public, as the boundaries between personal commentary and professional journalism remain under close scrutiny in today’s fast-moving news landscape.
