ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to President-elect Donald Trump over false claims made by George Stephanopoulos in a defamation lawsuit. The settlement also includes an apology. Trump’s legal challenges with media outlets continue.
In a landmark settlement, ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to President-elect Donald Trump following a defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit stemmed from false statements made by George Stephanopoulos, who claimed during a broadcast that Trump was “liable for rape.” In addition to the payment, ABC will cover $1 million in legal fees for Trump.
Details of the Defamation Incident
The controversial statements were made on March 10, 2024, during an interview with Representative Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week. Stephanopoulos repeatedly mischaracterized a 2023 New York jury’s decision that found Trump liable for sexual abuse but not for rape. Stephanopoulos’s false claims, which were made multiple times during the broadcast, were incorrect and harmful.
As part of the settlement, ABC News will issue a public apology. The network will amend its March 10, 2024, online article to include a statement of regret, which will read: “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week on March 10, 2024.”
Trump’s Legal Challenges with Media Outlets
The defamation suit against ABC News adds to a series of legal challenges Trump has faced in recent years. In 2023, a New York court found Trump liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll in 1996, although the court did not find him liable for rape. Judge Lewis Kaplan clarified that New York’s legal definition of rape is narrower than the common understanding of the term. In a separate case, the same judge ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million for defamation.
Stephanopoulos’s statements misrepresented the court’s findings, stating that “judges and two separate juries have found him liable for rape.” The settlement comes after Trump and Stephanopoulos were ordered to give sworn depositions.
The $15 million from ABC will be directed to a “Presidential foundation and museum” created for or by Trump. The settlement brings an end to Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the network, and an ABC spokesperson expressed satisfaction, noting that the matter had been resolved.
Ongoing Legal Battles for Trump
Trump’s legal battles with other media outlets have yielded mixed results. His defamation lawsuit against CNN was dismissed, as were similar lawsuits against The New York Times and The Washington Post. Trump’s ongoing lawsuit against CBS for “deceptive conduct” has yet to be resolved.