ABC Says Terry Moran, Suspended for Social Media Posts, Will Not Return

ABC News has made the decision to end its long-standing relationship with correspondent Terry Moran after he published inflammatory comments on social media targeting former President Donald Trump and Stephen Miller, the former Deputy Chief of Staff at the White House. In his post, Moran used the term “world-class hater” to describe both men, sparking immediate backlash and leading to his suspension.

The network officially announced on Tuesday that it would not be extending Moran’s employment contract, which is scheduled to conclude at the end of the week. Moran, who has spent nearly three decades at ABC News, had become a familiar face to viewers through his coverage of national politics, the judiciary, and international events.

A spokesperson for ABC News confirmed the network’s decision in a public statement:
“Our agreement with Terry Moran is concluding, and in light of his recent social media activity — which directly violated our editorial standards — we have opted not to renew his contract. ABC News holds its journalists to the highest benchmarks of impartiality, fairness, and professional conduct. We remain firmly committed to upholding these principles and delivering accurate, unbiased journalism.”

Sources close to the matter, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitive nature of contract discussions, stated that Moran’s agreement officially ends on Friday. Moran has yet to publicly address the controversy or respond to requests for comment.

Throughout his tenure at ABC News, Moran, 65, occupied several high-profile positions. He once served as the network’s chief White House correspondent and was a co-anchor of the nightly news program Nightline. Additionally, he was well-known for his reporting on the U.S. Supreme Court and for covering significant international conflicts.

In recent years, Moran had taken a lower-profile role, but he returned to national attention in April when he conducted a high-stakes interview with Donald Trump inside the Oval Office. The interaction earned him praise across media circles. During that interview, Trump remarked to Moran, “They’re giving you the opportunity of a lifetime. I chose you because I honestly didn’t know who you were — but that’s alright.” Shortly after, Moran was tapped to lead the network’s reporting on the Vatican’s papal conclave in Rome.

However, the resurgence in Moran’s visibility was short-lived. On Sunday morning, ABC News suspended him just hours after he posted controversial remarks on X (formerly known as Twitter). In the post, Moran described Stephen Miller as “a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred.” He further asserted that Miller’s hatred “feeds his soul” and that “he eats his hate.”

Moran’s post went on to characterize Donald Trump as “a world-class hater,” though he suggested that Trump’s hostility was instrumental — a tool used in pursuit of personal fame and self-aggrandizement. “His hatred is a means to an end,” Moran wrote, “and that end is the glorification of himself.”

Stephen Miller, a key architect of the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies, has recently re-emerged in the media spotlight, advocating for federal immigration enforcement actions, including raids in Los Angeles. Miller referred to protests against these operations as “insurrectionist” behavior, drawing sharp political lines.

Though Moran eventually removed the original post from his account, screenshots began to spread widely across social media platforms. The remarks quickly drew condemnation from political figures aligned with Trump. U.S. Vice President JD Vance denounced the comments as an “absolutely vile smear.” Both Vance and Miller highlighted the post as evidence of what they allege is entrenched anti-Trump sentiment within mainstream news organizations.

Within ABC News itself, the reaction was mixed but marked by surprise. Colleagues familiar with Moran’s journalistic work were reportedly stunned by the intensity and tone of his comments. Despite his long service and respected status in the newsroom, Moran’s words were viewed as crossing a line — not only in tone but in breach of journalistic objectivity, a principle ABC News has publicly vowed to uphold.

Terry Moran began his television journalism career in the early 1990s with Court TV, covering major legal proceedings with a style that combined clarity and analytical depth. His work soon drew the attention of ABC News, which brought him aboard in the mid-1990s. Over time, he evolved into one of the network’s most experienced correspondents, covering everything from presidential politics and Supreme Court rulings to wars in the Middle East and humanitarian crises in Africa.

His reporting was often recognized for its depth and narrative power, and he became a familiar figure not only in political circles but also to ordinary viewers seeking to understand complex global events. During the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations, Moran reported from Washington with a sharp focus on policy and rhetoric, earning credibility across partisan lines for his thorough and well-researched coverage.

However, the rise of social media has made it increasingly difficult for journalists to separate their personal opinions from their professional responsibilities. Moran’s case illustrates the growing tensions between the right to personal expression and the journalistic obligation to maintain neutrality in public forums. While many in the industry have called for clearer policies and support systems to navigate this evolving landscape, networks like ABC have reiterated that journalistic credibility rests, in large part, on the appearance — and reality — of impartiality.

Moran’s departure raises broader questions about the responsibilities of high-profile journalists in the digital age. As media institutions confront growing skepticism from the public, particularly regarding political bias, even one individual’s controversial post can spark a crisis that affects an entire newsroom’s reputation.

For ABC News, the situation presented a difficult decision — balancing a respected journalist’s long tenure and past achievements against a commitment to editorial standards in an increasingly polarized media environment.

Whether Moran will continue in journalism or pursue another path remains to be seen. What is clear is that his exit marks the end of a significant era at ABC News, where he spent the majority of his professional life contributing to the network’s most important stories. While his final days there were marred by controversy, his earlier work remains part of the network’s history.

As news organizations continue to grapple with internal accountability and external pressures, the case of Terry Moran may serve as a cautionary tale about the enduring importance — and growing complexity — of objectivity in journalism.is well respected within ABC News, and many journalists there were taken aback by the nature of his remarks.