ABC’s bitter history with Donald Trump sidelines superstars David Muir, George Stephanopoulos for primetime sit-down with POTUS
ABC News has a blockbuster interview with the President of the United States airing Tuesday. But neither of its superstar journalists will be doing the primetime tête-à-tête with Donald Trump, Page Six has learned, because of their bitter histories with POTUS.
Trump’s White House agreed to do the piece to mark the conclusion of his first 100 days in office. But insiders say that it was clear — one way or another — to some involved in the talks that it just wasn’t gonna happen with “ABC World News Tonight” anchor David Muir or chief political correspondent George Stephanopoulos sitting across from him.
Trump has despised Muir since September of last year after his debate against Democrat candidate Kamala Harris, which was hosted by ABC News and moderated by Muir and colleague Linsey David.
The pair forcefully fact-checked Trump and were accused of lobbing softballs at Harris while grilling the Republican candidate.
Trump fumed afterward that the debate was “one against three,” called Muir “not legit,” “a real lightweight” and “fake news,” and even suggested that he should sue the anchor. He added that Muir’s “hair was better five years ago.”
Trump slammed the anchor — who has fronted ABC’s flagship news show since 2014 — over the incident again just before his January swearing-in, calling Muir “so bad” and alleging that Muir had misstated crime statistics when fact-checking him.
The president will instead be interviewed by ABC’s senior national correspondent Terry Moran.
A TV insider told us, “It’s nuts that it’s not Muir. And giving it to someone that people have barely heard of? A primetime exclusive with the President?”
Meanwhile, the Disney-owned network also agreed in December 2024 to settle a defamation lawsuit that Trump filed over remarks that Stephanopoulos made about the judgement in the writer E. Jean Carroll’s case against Trump. (Stephanopoulos was said to be incensed by the pay-out).
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