ABC News has reached a significant settlement with former President Donald Trump, marking the end of a high-profile defamation lawsuit fueled by controversial statements made during an ABC interview. The network and anchor George Stephanopoulos have agreed to pay Trump $15 million, clearly indicating the seriousness of the claims made during the March 2024 episode of "This Week."
This legal confrontation erupted after Stephanopoulos inaccurately stated during the broadcast, "Donald Trump has been found liable for rape by a jury." This statement referred to the findings of another court case involving writer E. Jean Carroll, who claimed Trump had sexually abused her. Although the jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse under New York law, it did not conclude he was guilty of rape, making the anchor's claim defamatory in Trump's eyes.
Following the settlement announcement over the weekend, Stephanopoulos deactivated his personal account on X, formerly known as Twitter, where he had amassed over 2.3 million followers. His profile now shows the message, "This account doesn’t exist," though his Instagram remains active.
Financially, the settlement is structured such than the majority of the $15 million will be deposited directly to Trump’s presidential foundation and museum, which is being established for his future presidential library. Alongside this, ABC News also agreed to pay Trump’s legal team $1 million. The network elaborated on their desire to avoid the distraction and costs associated with continued litigation, as outlined in court documents.
The formal settlement also required ABC News to add notice to their online article about the issued interview, stating, "Editor’s Note: ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements..." This edit is already appended, highlighting the network’s acknowledgment of the misinformation and its potential harms.
ABC’s spokesperson expressed satisfaction over the agreement, stating, "We are pleased the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms of the court filing." This indicates both sides are content to resolve the matter and avoid the court-ordered depositions scheduled for next week.
Trump's legal team has not made detailed statements beyond this, indicating they might make comments on Truth Social soon. Regardless, the conclusion of this lawsuit emphasizes the risks media professionals face when discussing public figures and the importance of accuracy and accountability.
This story also brings to light Trump's historic comments on libel laws, stirring debate on how they could potentially change. Reflecting on his campaign trail during February 2016, he lamented, "Guys like me have no chance of winning" defamation suits against major presses, stating then, "We’re going to open up those libel laws."
The ABC settlement encapsulates more than just financial recompense; it serves as commentary on the growing intersection of media, legal ramifications, and the necessity for accurate reporting—especially when it pertains to powerful entities like Trump and issues of national interest. The repercussions of such settlements often ripple through the media industry, affecting not just the parties involved but also setting precedents for how media handles sensitive matters involving public figures.
