ABC News correspondent Terry Moran, who was suspended after creating a social media post calling Donald Trump and Stephen Miller “world-class haters,” will not return to the network. ABC confirmed that Moran will not return to work and that it exercised its right not to renew his contract. The post was deleted from Moran’s account shortly after it was published. Sources told CNN that ABC took advantage of Moran’s contract expiration date of June 13, 2025, making the dismissal easier. It remains unclear if contract renewal discussions were underway.
ABC indicated that Moran violated company policies, although the specific policy wasn't named. It’s likely the network felt he violated ethics rules, which generally discourage editorial staff from sharing personal political opinions. No replacement for Moran, a senior national correspondent, has been announced. The network has several other reporters with similar titles, including Trevor Ault, Mireya Villarreal, and Mola Lenghi. Byron Pitts and Steve Osunsami hold senior titles, while Deborah Roberts is the senior national affairs correspondent.
ABC could hire a replacement, promote internally, or maintain the current team. Moran recently interviewed Trump in the Oval Office—Trump's first broadcast network interview since taking office. Earlier in 2025, ABC News settled a defamation suit brought by Trump for $15 million, a decision reportedly met with internal disappointment. Reports suggest ABC and other networks may be hesitant to antagonize Trump, even while investigating alleged administration scandals.