On Saturday as ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos settled a defamation lawsuit brought by the president-elect.
The legal battle stemmed from comments made by Stephanopoulos during a March 2024 interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) on ABC’s This Week. During the broadcast, Stephanopoulos falsely claimed that Trump was “found liable for rape” by a Manhattan jury in the case involving E. Jean Carroll.
Trump vehemently denied the allegations, asserting he had never met Carroll. In reality, the jury in the defamation case found Trump liable for defamation, not rape. Trump accused Stephanopoulos and ABC News of defaming him further and filed a $15 million lawsuit earlier this year.
President Trump is suing George Stephanopoulos for defaming him and saying he was found liable for rape here in this shameful interview with Nancy Mace. 🔥🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/ANon5X5qoI
— JKash 🍊MAGA Queen (@JKash000) March 19, 2024
On Saturday, ABC News agreed to pay Trump $15 million, which will be donated to a presidential foundation and museum to be established by Trump. Additionally, ABC will cover $1 million in Trump’s legal fees.
As part of the settlement, the network issued a public statement of regret, acknowledging the inaccurate statements made during the interview. The statement, which will appear as an editor’s note on the March 2024 article, reads:
“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.”
The settlement allows both parties to avoid a lengthy and costly trial.
The controversy dates back to 2019, when E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s. Trump consistently denied the claims, calling Carroll’s allegations a fabrication and asserting he had never met her.
Earlier this year, a Manhattan jury found Trump liable for defamation against Carroll, but not for the alleged assault. The case drew significant media attention, with Stephanopoulos’s false remarks during his interview with Mace adding fuel to the fire.
Rep. Nancy Mace, herself a survivor of sexual assault, was also smeared during the interview. Trump’s legal team argued that Stephanopoulos’s comments not only misrepresented the facts but were made with reckless disregard for the truth.
The settlement is a significant victory for Trump, as it underscores the consequences of spreading false information about high-profile individuals. Trump’s legal team emphasized the importance of holding media outlets accountable for their reporting, particularly in cases involving defamatory statements.
Trump’s team celebrated the outcome, with a spokesperson stating:
“This settlement sends a clear message that baseless and defamatory statements will not go unchallenged. President Trump remains committed to fighting for truth and justice.”
The $15 million settlement will go toward establishing a presidential foundation and museum, similar to those created by past U.S. presidents. While Trump expressed satisfaction with the resolution, the case serves as a reminder of the ongoing tension between the former president and major media outlets.
As Trump prepares for his return to the White House, the settlement adds to a series of legal and political wins for the president-elect in recent months.