ABC News host George Stephanopoulos is said to be ‘apolectic’ and ‘humiliated’ after network’s decision to pay $16 million to settle defamation lawsuit between ABC and Donald Trump.
The settlement, which includes $15 million for a presidential foundation and $1 million for Trump’s legal fees, has sparked a firestorm within Disney’s news organization.
Stephanopoulos, a former aide to Bill Clinton in the 1990s, was particularly outraged at being forced to publicly apologize. New York Post.
Insiders explained how the veteran presenter remains ‘defiant’ amid the fallout.
“George is a very guarded person. His circle of trust is so small, and many of them don’t work (anymore at ABC). He felt cornered and blindsided,” the insider said.
The host’s frustration with the network is coupled with both the personal and professional pressure the episode has put on him – and it appears to have boiled over, as he has since deactivated his X account and cut ties with his more than 2 has broken .3 million followers.
The decision to settle has also left many ABC News staffers fuming.
“It’s front-page news everywhere, but ABC doesn’t report on itself,” said one employee.
ABC News host George Stephanopoulos is said to be ‘apolectic’ and ‘humiliated’ after ABC decided to pay $16 million to settle a defamation lawsuit between the network and Trump
The settlement includes $15 million for Trump’s presidential foundation and $1 million for Trump’s legal costs
A lack of internal communication from company executives has only fueled resentment following recent layoffs in several of the network’s departments.
“It’s another punch. Just the shame: people are furious,” one employee complained.
The lawsuit stemmed from a March interview in which Stephanopoulos falsely claimed that Trump had been found liable for the rape in a civil case of writer E. Jean Carroll.
In that case, a jury found Trump actually liable for sexually assaulting and defaming Carroll, and awarded her $5 million in damages.
However, the jury did not conclude that Trump committed rape as defined under New York law.
Stephanopoulos’s formulation – in which he referred to Trump as “found responsible for rape” – became the crux of the defamation case.
Trump argued that the statements were made with “malice” and without regard to the legal distinction that the jury’s verdict did not meet the state’s specific definition of rape.
During the interview, Stephanopoulos pressed Mace, saying, “Judges and two separate juries have found him liable for rape and for defaming the victim of that rape.”
During the interview, Stephanopoulos put press. Nancy Mace under pressure after endorsing Trump, saying: ‘Judges and two separate juries have found him liable for rape and for defaming the victim of that rape.’
Mace was raped when she was 16 years old and says it pushed her to become an advocate for women’s issues
In reality, a jury in Manhattan had found Trump liable for sexual assault and defamation — but not for rape.
In response, Trump filed a lawsuit, claiming such statements misrepresented the jury’s findings and caused him reputational damage.
At the time, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the trial, noted that the legal definition of rape in New York law is more limited than what is commonly understood.
Stephanopoulos had previously defended himself against Trump’s defamation claims, saying in May that he would not be deterred from his work “because of a threat.”
But his bosses at ABC News and Disney clearly thought differently.
With depositions imminent for both Trump and Stephanopoulos, the network’s legal team pushed for a quick resolution to reach a settlement and issue an apology.
“ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements about President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Representative Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week on March 10, 2024,” the statement read.
The prospect of corporate emails and internal discussions being uncovered during discovery before any court hearings would also be a major factor in the settlement.
Industry insiders believe Disney CEO Bob Iger orchestrated the settlement to avoid prolonged legal exposure, especially with Trump returning to the White House in a month.
ABC will also post a note on its website expressing regret over the claim in a March 10 segment on This Week created by Stephanopoulos
Industry insiders believe Disney CEO Bob Iger, pictured, orchestrated the settlement to avoid prolonged legal exposure, especially with Trump returning to the White House in a month.
Disney executive Debra O’Connell, who oversees ABC News, reportedly recently visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate and had dinner with Susie Wiles, Trump’s new chief of staff
“This was not a news department decision; it was a company decision,” a source said The mail.
“They probably didn’t want to make discovery and risk sensitive documents becoming public,” explains a legal analyst familiar with corporate litigation tactics.
Adding to the intrigue, Disney executive Debra O’Connell, who oversees ABC News, recently visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate and dined with Susie Wiles, Trump’s new chief of staff, according to the New York Timessignaling a possible thaw and possible reset of relations.
The meeting fueled speculation about Disney’s broader strategic recalibrations amid the new administration’s regulatory power.
Disney leadership is well aware of the public battles the company has caused in the past, most notably its clash with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over LGBTQ+ legislation.
Media observers suggest Iger wanted to neutralize any potential hostility from the Trump administration before it could escalate into broader corporate liability.
Stephanopoulos had previously defended himself against Trump’s defamation claims, saying in May that he would not be deterred from his work ‘because of a threat’
Although ABC News officially declined to comment, the network’s joint statement with Stephanopoulos expressed “regret” over the inaccurate statements made during the March interview.
The anchor herself has remained silent and declined multiple requests for comment.
Trump is also suing CBS News for $10 billion in damages, alleging the network “conducted deceptively” when it interviewed Vice President Kamala Harris in October.
Lawyers for the president claimed numerous violations by the broadcaster, including lying in a deliberate and malicious manner, according to a lawsuit.
They wrote that the complaint arises from CBS’ partisan and unlawful election acts and voter interference through malicious, deceptive and substantial news distortion intended to confuse, deceive and deceive the public.”
Trump and his team also claim that CBS News tried to provide coverage for Democrats by making Kamala Harris’ performance look better than it was.