ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos have agreed to a $15 million settlement with President-elect Donald Trump, resolving a defamation lawsuit stemming from inaccurate statements made during a March 2024 broadcast.
As part of the settlement, ABC will make the payment as a charitable contribution to a future Trump presidential foundation and museum, along with covering $1 million in Trump’s legal fees.
The network also issued a public statement of regret, acknowledging mischaracterisations about Trump’s legal history during an interview on This Week. Stephanopoulos repeatedly referred to Trump as being “liable for rape,” though the jury in the referenced case found him liable for “sexual abuse,” a legally distinct term under New York law.
The settlement avoided a trial, which had been looming with court-ordered depositions scheduled for the following week.
Trump’s lawsuit, filed in Florida, marked one of several recent legal victories for the president-elect, including dismissed charges in unrelated federal and state cases.
While ABC said it was relieved at resolving the case, the episode highlights ongoing tensions between legacy media and Trump, who has also launched a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News for alleged election interference.
