After $16 Million Settlement, ‘Good Morning America’ Host Accuses Donald Trump of Corruption

For decades, ABC News has stood as a pillar of broadcast journalism, delivering the day’s most important stories through trusted voices like Peter Jennings, Diane Sawyer, and David Muir. Yet, as political divisions in the United States deepen, many viewers have found themselves questioning the neutrality and trustworthiness of mainstream media outlets.

Despite these challenges, one of ABC’s flagship programs, Good Morning America, has maintained a strong audience, anchored by familiar faces such as Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Michael Strahan, and Lara Spencer.

Related: ‘Good Morning America’ Shake-Up Sparks Concern Behind the Scenes at ABC

Even with its high ratings and loyal viewers, ABC News found itself at the center of controversy following a high-profile legal battle that concluded earlier this year. The incident began in March 2024, when George Stephanopoulos conducted an interview with South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace. During the conversation, Stephanopoulos stated that former President Donald Trump had been “liable for rape” according to a jury verdict.

In reality, the jury had found Trump liable for sexual abuse—a distinction that holds legal significance and varies by jurisdiction.

The misstatement enraged Donald Trump, who promptly filed a defamation lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company and ABC News. Although legal experts generally believed that ABC had a strong defense and would likely prevail in court, the situation took an unexpected turn.

Related: Trump Praises Disney’s New Project—Then Turns Around With a Threat

Disney CEO Bob Iger opted to settle the lawsuit before it reached trial. The settlement included a $15 million payment to Trump’s Presidential fund, which is anticipated to support the creation of his Presidential Library, as well as an additional $1 million toward legal fees.

Following the settlement, ABC surprised many by renewing Stephanopoulos’ contract despite the turmoil. According to insiders, Stephanopoulos himself was caught off guard by the decision to settle but chose to remain with the network, signing a contract renewal whose details remain undisclosed. This move reinforced ABC’s confidence in Stephanopoulos as a key figure within their lineup, even amid ongoing legal scrutiny.

Now back on air, Stephanopoulos has not shied away from criticizing the former president and his administration.

Related: Donald Trump Demands Bob Iger “Fire Everybody” at ABC

On his program, This Week With George Stephanopoulos, he has openly discussed what he describes as the “staggering” financial gains made by Trump and his family through political leverage.

The scale is staggering. Donald Trump and his family are making hundreds of millions, potentially billions of dollars, as Trump and his administration are taking official actions that benefit contributors and investors. Just this week, we learned of pardons to tax cheats, including a man whose mother was pardoned just weeks after she attended a million-dollar-a-head fundraiser for the president, the Trump media and technology group, raising $2.5 billion dollars from 50 institutional investors whose identities have not been disclosed.

He also highlighted how legal challenges and investigations have been dropped following quid pro quo arrangements. Stephanopoulos pointed specifically to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s lawsuit against cryptocurrency giant Binance, which was withdrawn shortly after the company began selling currency linked to World Liberty Financial—a firm associated with the Trump family.

Citing political commentator David Frum, Stephanopoulos added:

“‘Nothing like this has been attempted or even imagined in the history of the American presidency,’ he writes. ‘Throw away the history books, discard feeble comparisons to scandals of the past … The brazenness resembles nothing seen in any earlier White House. This is American corruption on the scale of a post-Soviet republic or a post-colonial African dictatorship.’ That’s where we begin this week.”

George Stephanopoulos opened @ThisWeekABC in high-dungeon over presidential corruption: “This unprecedented money making by a sitting President and his family summarized by critics like @TheAtlantic’s David Frum: ‘Nothing like this has been attempted or even imagined in the… pic.twitter.com/XAkW8xGyA7

— Brent Baker 🇺🇲🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) June 1, 2025

As of this writing, Donald Trump has yet to respond publicly to Stephanopoulos’ remarks. Given their longstanding animosity, many expect the former president will voice his displeasure on his social media platform, which he frequently uses to attack the media and challenge narratives he finds unfavorable.

This legal battle and its aftermath underscore the fraught relationship between the media and political figures, especially in today’s highly charged environment. Despite the controversy, Stephanopoulos remains a prominent voice in political journalism, continuing to hold those in power accountable.

Do you believe the media has a vital role in exposing questionable and potentially illegal actions by political leaders? How important is it for journalists to maintain rigorous scrutiny of those in office, especially in a time of heightened political tension? Share your thoughts in the comments below.