Washington, D.C. — Former ABC News correspondent Terry Moran publicly criticized the portrayal of President Donald Trump in a recent “60 Minutes” interview, addressing concerns over journalistic integrity during his Monday appearance on CNN’s “News Central.” Moran, a veteran journalist, highlighted what he saw as a failure to sufficiently challenge the president’s statements, which he described as often authoritarian and misleading.
The controversy stems from a “60 Minutes” segment conducted by correspondent Norah O’Donnell, broadcast shortly after CBS’s parent company, Paramount, concluded a substantial $16 million legal settlement with Trump. This settlement followed a lawsuit in which Trump claimed defamation by the network. Unaired excerpts from the interview reportedly feature Trump boasting about the financial gain obtained through the settlement, according to Moran.
In his critique, Moran, who interviewed Trump himself in April earlier that year, stressed the complexities of interviewing a figure like Trump, who frequently diverges from the truth. He expressed the opaque balance journalists must maintain between respecting the presidential office and rigorously pursuing factual accuracy. Moran underscored that journalists have a responsibility not to enable misleading information by remaining passive.
During the CNN segment, Moran reflected on his own approach to interviewing authoritative figures, emphasizing the importance of persistence in seeking truth without overt confrontation. “You don’t have to get into a fight, but you must stand up for truth,” Moran remarked.
Moran also questioned the potential influence of CBS News’ newly appointed editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, on the editorial direction of the interview. Given Weiss’s historically favorable coverage of Trump, Moran expressed concerns about the impartiality of the network’s approach.
The episode is not Moran’s only brush with controversy stemming from his outspoken views. In June of the same year, ABC News decided not to renew Moran’s contract after he labeled Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, as a “world-class hater” on social media. The network suspended Moran, citing a breach of their impartiality standards, and shortly after, formally announced the non-renewal of his contract.
Moran’s departure followed public backlash from high-profile Trump administration members, including Vice President JD Vance and Miller himself, both condemning Moran’s comments as overly critical and biased. This incident reflects the broader escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the press, characterized by numerous legal disputes.
Prior to this episode, Trump had initiated a $20 billion lawsuit against CBS over a “60 Minutes” interview with his political opponent, Kamala Harris, in 2024. Additionally, a defamation suit concluded in December with ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos settling for $15 million after accusations from Trump.
Following his exit from ABC News, where he served from 1997 in various esteemed roles—including as co-anchor of “Nightline” and chief foreign correspondent—Moran continued to voice his perspectives through a newsletter on SubStack.
This ongoing saga aptly encapsulates the fraught relationship between the U.S. media landscape and the political figures it covers, spotlighting the intense scrutiny and complex dynamics journalists navigate in an era of divisive politics and contentious public discourse.