ABC News has suspended correspondent Terry Moran following a controversial tweet in which he criticized Stephen Miller, a prominent figure in the Trump administration. Moran referred to Miller, the deputy chief of staff, as a “world-class hater” in a post on X (formerly Twitter), which he later deleted. Moran went on to state that the most intriguing aspect of Miller is “not brains. It’s bile,” adding that both Miller and former President Donald Trump derive “spiritual nourishment” from their respective hatreds.
The post drew the ire of the White House after it was captured in a screenshot. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the administration, called Moran’s remarks “unhinged and unacceptable” and suggested to ABC that they should “hold Terry accountable” while advocating for his suspension or termination.
Within an hour of the backlash, ABC News announced Moran’s suspension. A network spokesperson explained, “ABC News stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage and does not condone subjective personal attacks on others. The post does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards — as a result, Terry Moran has been suspended pending further evaluation.”
Moran’s strong political commentary is unusual for a journalist of his stature, as noted by CNN. His tweet surfaced shortly after 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed to Los Angeles to respond to protests against ICE raids, according to The Wrap.
In response, Miller took to X to condemn the media, claiming that “for decades, the privileged anchors and reporters narrating and gatekeeping our society have been radicals adopting a journalist’s pose. Terry pulled off his mask.” This incident is not the first time Miller has been described as cruel; the Southern Poverty Law Center has criticized his role in implementing harsh immigration policies that include family separations and blocking asylum seekers.
Under the Trump administration, Miller has been associated with policies that pressured ICE agents to increase arrests, affecting U.S. citizens, children, and green card holders. Additionally, he played a role in instituting a travel ban impacting several predominantly Muslim countries, which went into effect on Monday.
Vice President JD Vance defended Miller, asserting that his actions are “motivated by love of country.”