ABC News host George Stephanopoulos refrained from addressing his network’s high-profile settlement with President-elect Donald Trump during Sunday’s episode of This Week. The settlement, which avoided a potentially costly defamation trial, was first reported by Fox News Digital on Saturday but went unmentioned in the program’s lineup. Instead, Stephanopoulos focused on topics such as unidentified drones over New Jersey, conflicts in Syria, and Trump’s cabinet selections.
The lawsuit stemmed from comments Stephanopoulos made during a contentious interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) in March. During the interview, he incorrectly stated that Trump had been found “liable for rape” in a civil case involving E. Jean Carroll. In reality, a jury determined Trump was liable for “sexual abuse,” a distinct charge under New York law. Despite this distinction, Stephanopoulos repeated the claim multiple times during the segment, leading Trump to file the defamation lawsuit.
Initially, Stephanopoulos was defiant, refusing to back down when questioned about the lawsuit in May. “I won’t be cowed out of doing my job because of a threat,” he told late-night host Stephen Colbert. He further argued that his comments were justified, asserting, “Trump sued me because I used the word ‘rape,’ even though a judge said that’s in fact what did happen.” However, the recent settlement marks a significant shift in the network’s stance.
Under the terms of the agreement, ABC News will pay $15 million as a charitable contribution to a “Presidential foundation and museum” to be established by Trump, along with $1 million in Trump’s attorney fees. Additionally, both ABC News and Stephanopoulos issued public statements of regret. An editor’s note now appears on the network’s website below a March 10, 2024, article, reading: “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week on March 10, 2024.”
While ABC News expressed satisfaction with the resolution, stating, “We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit,” Stephanopoulos has remained silent on the matter. Over the weekend, he also deleted his account on X (formerly Twitter), raising further questions about his response to the legal and public relations fallout. Meanwhile, Trump has framed the settlement as a vindication of his legal battle against what he calls “fake news.”