Staff Reports
A hefty settlement has emerged from a legal tussle between President Trump and ABC News, proving that even mainstream media can feel the burn when they step into the ring with the former president. The network has agreed to fork over a sizable sum as a “charitable contribution” to a new presidential foundation and museum, which might just be the most clever way to avoid the phrase “we were wrong.” Along with this windfall, ABC has also committed to paying $1 million in legal fees, making it a pricey lesson in the consequences of peddling misinformation.
The legal drama unfolded when Trump decided he had enough of George Stephanopoulos’ careless words during an interview with Congresswoman Nancy Mace, where Stephanopoulos made the eyebrow-raising claim that Trump had been found liable for rape. In what must be the newest chapter of “Hyperbole and Hysteria,” the anchor took the liberty of embellishing a complex legal battle involving Trump and E. Jean Carroll, aiming to make headlines by weaving in dramatic language that you would think belonged in a bad soap opera rather than a serious news segment.
To put things in perspective, the ruling in question had Trump found liable for sexual abuse, which carries different legal ramifications than “rape” as most people understand it. But who needs nuance in journalism when a sensationalist attack can grab eyeballs? ABC’s settlement means they’ll even issue a statement of regret, although one can’t help but wonder if the words “we should have thought this through” will be included. Instead, they settled for the equivalent of a groveling footnote at the bottom of an article, while they likely hope viewers won’t read the fine print.
#BREAKING: ABC News and its top anchor George Stephanopoulos have reached a $15 million settlement deal with President-elect Donald Trump in an agreement to drop his defamation suit and avoid a costly trial. https://t.co/hap3Kj9lDK
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 14, 2024
In a classic case of “I dare you to tell me I’m wrong,” Stephanopoulos stuck to his guns and blasted Trump for suing him over language that he insists was adequately supported by judicial comments. It’s amusing to watch how those in the mainstream media seem to think they’re above the fray, refusing to back down even when confronted with the ramifications of their words, all while spinning a narrative that might delight their base but leaves much to be desired in factual accuracy. Stephanopoulos even claimed that he wouldn’t be “cowed” by the lawsuit, as if he were some kind of modern-day gladiator fighting for the truth.
In the end, this legal kerfuffle is just another reminder of the lengths the mainstream media will go to twist narratives against Trump, and how these efforts can blow up in their faces. A judge may not have officially labeled Trump as guilty of rape, but the media’s habit of crossing swords with him typically does not end well. So while the settlement might make ABC feel a little lighter in the wallet, it certainly shows that the triumph of conservative principles and the revelation of liberal media bias is alive and kicking—just like the president himself.
