NEW YORK – ABC News has agreed to pay US$15 million (S$20.2 million) to settle a defamation lawsuit filed by Donald Trump, marking a rare victory for the president-elect in his frequent legal battles with the media.
Under the terms of the settlement, revealed on Dec 13, ABC News will donate the amount to Trump’s planned presidential foundation and museum. Additionally, the network and its anchor, George Stephanopoulos, issued a statement expressing “regret” over remarks made during a televised interview in March. ABC will also cover US$1 million in Trump’s legal fees.
The lawsuit stemmed from an interview on This Week, where Stephanopoulos inaccurately claimed that Trump had been found “liable for rape” in a 2023 civil case involving writer E. Jean Carroll. A federal jury in New York had found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, not rape, under New York’s narrow legal definition. Trump argued that the statements harmed his reputation.
Despite legal experts noting that public figures face a high bar to prove defamation, ABC opted to settle rather than continue fighting the case. Media law professor RonNell Andersen Jones remarked that the decision might reflect challenges modern news organizations face amid heightened political pressures and financial instability.
ABC News did not disclose specific reasons for settling but said it was “pleased” to resolve the case. A note has also been added to an online article about the interview, expressing the network’s regret.
The settlement comes amid ongoing tensions between ABC News and Trump. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump criticized the network over its handling of his debate against Vice-President Kamala Harris and questioned its neutrality due to ties between ABC executives and Harris.
The lawsuit’s conclusion coincided with Trump’s incoming administration and meetings between ABC News executives and Trump’s transition team, reportedly unrelated to the defamation case.