George Stephanopoulos Sparks ABC News Tension with Biden Remarks, Deepens Rivalry with David Muir
The atmosphere at ABC News is growing tense following a bombshell statement made by anchor George Stephanopoulos, who remarked, “President Joe Biden must go.” This comment has sent shockwaves through the newsroom, especially among supporters of Stephanopoulos’ main rival at ABC, David Muir.
The drama began when Stephanopoulos, during an interview with President Biden, directly asked, “Are you sure you’re being honest with yourself when you say you have the mental and physical capacity to serve another four years?” This bold line of questioning quickly made headlines, but it wasn’t the only instance that fueled controversy.
Shortly after the interview, Stephanopoulos found himself in an unexpected situation that added fuel to the fire. While walking down a New York street, a cameraman from TMZ stopped him, asking whether Biden should resign. Stephanopoulos, caught off-guard, candidly replied, “I don’t think he can serve four more years.” This remark quickly circulated, leading to growing concerns about his objectivity as a news anchor.
A Long-Standing Rivalry with David Muir
The incident has reignited the simmering rivalry between Stephanopoulos and David Muir, one of ABC’s top anchors and the face of World News Tonight and 20/20. The rivalry reportedly intensified after President Biden’s advisers chose Stephanopoulos for the first post-debate interview following Biden’s much-criticized performance. This decision shocked many, especially Muir’s camp, who had expected Muir to land the pivotal interview.
A network insider told RadarOnline, “David has his supporters and team inside ABC, and George has his. The rivalry between David and George is real, and it makes for tension behind the scenes. There are private celebrations from those in David’s corner that George plunged the network into an embarrassing scandal.”
This behind-the-scenes tension escalated when Stephanopoulos’ remarks about Biden’s fitness for office became public. Those aligned with Muir have used this as an opportunity to highlight what they see as Stephanopoulos’ lack of professionalism. “David is the height of professionalism,” said one source. “He is a newsman, and he knows his place—to deliver the news without fear or favor.”
Crisis Management at ABC News
Stephanopoulos’ comments have created a significant dilemma for ABC News President Debra O’Connell. According to sources, O’Connell was furious, seeing the comments as a breach of journalistic neutrality and a threat to the network’s reputation. She reportedly gave Stephanopoulos an ultimatum: apologize or face suspension from his role on ABC’s highly-rated morning show.
“She was furious that someone of George’s experience and stature would jeopardize the news division’s neutrality, attracting unwanted and embarrassing headlines,” one insider stated. “Without an apology, how could he carry on at ABC News without the network being overwhelmed by criticism?”
Although Stephanopoulos downplayed his remarks as a casual jest, the damage was already done. The network’s leadership is reportedly grappling with how to restore its image amid the fallout.
A History of Tension
This isn’t the first time Stephanopoulos and Muir’s rivalry has made headlines. In 2021, tensions between the two anchors reached a peak when Stephanopoulos allegedly threatened to leave ABC for a competitor network. The situation escalated to such an extent that Disney’s Executive Chairman, Bob Iger, intervened, flying across the country to mediate the situation. His efforts led to a lucrative contract extension for Stephanopoulos, which helped calm the waters at the time.
However, with this latest controversy, the rivalry is once again in the spotlight, leaving ABC News in a precarious position. As the network navigates the fallout, all eyes are on Stephanopoulos to see if he can recover from this crisis—or if Muir will ultimately come out on top.
This unfolding drama at ABC reflects the high stakes and intense competition that exist within the world of television news, where even the smallest missteps can have massive ramifications.