ABC News settles defamation lawsuit with Trump for $15 million

ABC News has reached a $15 million settlement with President-elect Donald Trump to resolve a defamation lawsuit involving Good Morning America and This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos. The lawsuit stemmed from a March 2024 interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, where Stephanopoulos falsely asserted that Trump had been "found liable for rape" in a civil case.

The settlement, filed on December 14 and signed by Trump, Stephanopoulos, and ABC News officials, includes the payment being allocated to a "Presidential foundation and museum" established by Trump. ABC also agreed to cover $1 million in legal fees for Trump’s attorneys.

Additionally, an editor’s note will be added to the March 2024 online article central to the lawsuit. The note will state that ABC News and Stephanopoulos "regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump" made during the contentious interview.

ABC News expressed satisfaction with the resolution in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, while Trump and Stephanopoulos were scheduled to give depositions before the agreement was finalized.

This settlement follows Trump’s win in the 2024 presidential election, marking a significant victory for the President-elect as he prepares to assume office. The creation of a foundation and museum is seen as a continuation of a tradition followed by former U.S. presidents.

The lawsuit adds to a year of high-profile headlines for Trump and ABC News, underscoring the complexities of media responsibility and political scrutiny in modern discourse.