BREAKING NEWS: ABC News Anchor Suspended After Karoline Leavitt Exposes Shocking Comment
In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the media landscape, ABC News anchor Terry Moran has been suspended following a controversial social media post that was brought to light by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The incident, unfolding over the weekend of June 7-8, 2025, has ignited a firestorm of controversy, leaving the internet buzzing with reactions ranging from disbelief to outrage. With one screenshot and a single post, Leavitt transformed a private jab into a public reckoning, thrusting ABC executives into crisis mode and sidelining one of their top journalists.
The saga began late Saturday night, June 7, when Moran, a veteran ABC News correspondent known for his coverage of the White House, Supreme Court, and presidential campaigns, posted a series of remarks on X targeting senior Trump administration official Stephen Miller and President Donald Trump himself. In the now-deleted post, Moran described Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, as a “world-class hater” whose “bile” fueled the Trumpist movement. He went further, labeling Trump a “world-class hater” whose antagonism served only to enhance his self-image. The comments, though quickly deleted, were captured in screenshots that spread like wildfire across social media platforms.
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Karoline Leavitt, the 27-year-old White House Press Secretary and a rising figure in conservative circles, seized the opportunity to call out Moran’s remarks. On June 8, she posted the screenshot on her X account, condemning the comments as “unhinged and unacceptable.” In her post, Leavitt wrote, “Last night, in a since-deleted post, so-called ‘journalist’ @TerryMoran went on a rampage against Stephen Miller and called President Trump ‘a world class hater.’ This is unhinged and unacceptable. We have reached out to @ABC to inquire about how they plan to hold Terry accountable.” Her post, accompanied by the damning screenshot, quickly went viral, amplifying the controversy and drawing attention from conservative commentators, political figures, and the public alike.
By late Sunday morning, June 8, ABC News responded to the growing backlash with a statement announcing Moran’s suspension. “ABC News stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage and does not condone subjective personal attacks on others,” the network said. “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.” The swift action underscored the network’s sensitivity to accusations of bias, particularly in light of a recent $15 million defamation settlement with Trump over comments made by another ABC anchor, George Stephanopoulos, in the E. Jean Carroll case.
The internet’s reaction was immediate and polarized. Conservative voices, including Vice President JD Vance, rallied behind Leavitt’s call for accountability. Vance described Moran’s comments as an “absolutely vile smear of Stephen Miller,” adding, “It’s dripping with hatred. Remember that every time you watch ABC’s coverage of the Trump administration.” On X, conservative users praised Leavitt for exposing what they saw as blatant bias in mainstream media, with some calling her a “hero” for holding journalists accountable. One user wrote, “Karoline Leavitt just proved why she’s a force to be reckoned with. She didn’t let Moran’s attack slide, and now he’s paying the price.”
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Conversely, others criticized Leavitt for what they called “situational ethics,” pointing out the Trump administration’s own history of inflammatory rhetoric. One X user posted, “ALL OF TRUMP ADMINISTRATION is unhinged and unacceptable. Truth has no place in a Trump dictatorship. Terry Moran is right – Stephen Miller ‘a man who’s richly endowed with the capacity for hatred.’” Others expressed dismay at ABC’s decision to suspend Moran, arguing that it capitulated to political pressure and stifled free speech. “ABC just threw Terry Moran under the bus to avoid another Trump lawsuit. This is what happens when media caves to power,” one commenter noted.
The controversy comes at a time of heightened tension between the Trump administration and the media. Moran’s remarks were posted amid unrest near Paramount, California, where Trump had deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to address protests disrupting Border Patrol operations. Stephen Miller, a key figure in shaping Trump’s immigration policies, characterized the demonstrations as an “insurrection” and vowed to “take back America.” Moran’s criticism of Miller’s demeanor and Trump’s leadership style appeared to be a direct response to these events, though his decision to delete the posts suggests he recognized their potential to provoke backlash.
For ABC, the incident is a public relations nightmare. The network’s swift suspension of Moran was likely an attempt to mitigate further damage, given its recent legal entanglements with Trump. However, the move has only intensified scrutiny, with some accusing ABC of bowing to political pressure while others argue it was necessary to maintain journalistic integrity. Reports suggest that by June 10, ABC had terminated Moran’s contract entirely, though the network has not officially confirmed this development. If true, it would mark a significant escalation in the fallout from Leavitt’s expose.
Leavitt, meanwhile, has emerged as a polarizing figure in her own right. Her quick response to Moran’s post and her subsequent appearance on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, where she reiterated her demand for accountability, have cemented her reputation as a fierce defender of the Trump administration. “All we’re asking for is truth and transparency,” she told Bartiromo. “You cannot go on these unhinged rants against administration officials and the President of the United States.” Yet critics argue that her selective outrage ignores Trump’s own history of name-calling, pointing to a double standard in her call for civility.

The broader implications of this incident touch on ongoing debates about media bias, freedom of expression, and the role of social media in shaping public discourse. Moran, a seasoned journalist with a career spanning decades, has previously positioned himself as an objective observer, even predicting Trump’s 2016 and 2024 victories. His recent comments, however, have compromised that image, raising questions about whether journalists can maintain impartiality in an increasingly polarized environment.
As the dust settles, the internet remains abuzz with reactions. Hashtags like #TerryMoran and #KarolineLeavitt trended on X, with users dissecting every angle of the controversy. Some see Moran’s suspension as a victory for accountability, while others view it as a chilling precedent for media censorship. What began as a late-night post has spiraled into a national conversation about truth, power, and the consequences of words in the digital age. For now, Moran is off the air, ABC is in damage control, and Leavitt’s screenshot continues to fuel a debate that shows no signs of slowing down.