ABC News settles Trump defamation lawsuit for $15M

The news outlet on Friday agreed to contribute the funds toward President-elect Donald Trump’s presidential library. Trump in March sued ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos after the host during a March 10 news segment incorrectly referenced a jury ruling against Trump in a civil lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. A jury in 2023 found him liable for sexual abuse in the civil case. Trump has consistently denied Carroll’s claims. The settlement allows Trump, ABC News, and Stephanopoulos to avoid sitting for depositions this week as ordered by a Florida federal judge.

What happened during the March news segment? Stephanopoulos made the statements during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., after she endorsed Trump as the Republican nominee for president. Mace has publicly said that she was raped as a teenager and Stephanopoulos pressed the congresswoman on how she could support Trump given the allegations brought against him. According to an editor’s note now on the story, ABC News and George Stephanopoulos now regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump that were made during the interview.

What else is included in the settlement? Under the agreement, ABC News will be required to pay $1 million in legal fees to Trump’s attorney. The outlet also agreed to publish an apology at the bottom of the March 10 article about Stephanopoulos and Mace’s interview. 

Dig deeper: Read Grace Snell’s report in WORLD Magazine about how Trump has turned his legal challenges into campaign dollars.