Veteran journalist Terry Moran is publicly defending the controversial social media post that led to his departure from ABC News, asserting that his comments about Stephen Miller and former President Donald Trump were accurate, deliberate, and in line with journalistic values of truth-telling.
Moran, a longtime senior national correspondent for ABC who joined the network in 1997, made the remarks in a Substack interview with Tim Miller of The Bulwark, just days after ABC announced it would not renew his contract.
The Post That Sparked the Fallout
On June 8, Moran posted on X (formerly Twitter), describing Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff, as “a man richly endowed with the capacity for hatred,” adding that Miller’s “hatreds are his spiritual nourishment.” Moran went on to describe Trump as a “world-class hater” who uses hatred as a tool for “his own glorification.”
The post quickly drew backlash from Trump allies and the White House, prompting ABC to suspend Moran pending review.
“ABC News stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage,” the network said in a statement. “The post does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards.”
Days later, ABC confirmed it would not renew Moran’s contract, citing a “clear violation of ABC News policies.”
Moran Responds: ‘It Was Accurate and True’
In his conversation on Substack, Moran stood by his comments.
“I wrote it because I thought it was true,” he said. “That’s the job — not objectivity, but fairness and accuracy.”
He acknowledged that the post used “very strong language deliberately” and said his statements were based on years of professional observation.
“Stephen Miller has used his position and influence to degrade our public discourse,” Moran argued. “To describe him accurately, I needed that language.”
Moran also clarified that his post, made just after midnight, was not impulsive or emotional, but something he had “thought about all day.”
“I typed it out in bed, looked at it, and said, ‘That’s true.’ And I hit send.”
Reactions and Reflections
Moran dismissed the notion that he was simply making a political statement, describing himself as “not that liberal,” and identifying instead as a “Hubert Humphrey Democrat.”
He explained that calling out public figures for what he perceives as destructive behavior is part of a journalist’s role.
“Reporters make observations,” he said. “And I observed that Stephen Miller is a danger.”
What’s Next for Moran
Following his departure, Moran announced that he would launch his own Substack newsletter, describing it as a platform where he can continue the “important work” of journalism.
In a video shared on June 11, he expressed enthusiasm for the new venture:
“I can’t wait to get at it. We all have important work to do in this time of such trouble for our country.”
Moran’s ousting has reignited debate about journalistic neutrality, freedom of expression, and the line between opinion and reporting — particularly in a polarized political environment where media figures are increasingly scrutinized for public commentary.
