ABC News’ Trump comparison is “a terrible precedent” in “Bending the Knee,” media experts say

The $15 million settlement between ABC News, George Stephanopoulos and Donald Trump sparked strong reactions on Saturday. The decision “feels like another mainstream news organization bending the knee,” said NPR-TV critic Eric Deggans on X, formerly Twitter.

News of the settlement came a day after Trump was ordered to give four hours of testimony in the case. Stephanopoulos and the news channel will make a $15 donation to a future presidential library or similar foundation, publicly apologize to Trump and cover $1 million of Trump’s legal fees.

Journalist Paul Farhi called the agreement “a terrible precedent and a major sellout.” That sentiment was echoed by Keith Olbermann, who wrote on X: “What a great look @abc News.”

“This is both confusing and discouraging. #Disney and #ABC are giving in to Trump,” added Sharon Waxman, managing editor of TheWrap.

CNN media analyst Brian Stelter asked a glaring question: “Why did ABC agree to pay and apologize?” The network won’t say. It could have continued to fight in court, but chose to pay money to end the dispute and drop the case.” He added in parentheses: “A usual move, but with an unusual plaintiff, the president-elect.”

Stelter also shared a post from attorney Marc E. Elias, who commented: “Knees bent. Ring kissed. Another legacy news outlet chooses obedience.”

Bill Kristol of Defending Democracy Together warned: “ABC’s agreement with Trump appears to be a turning point in the Orbanization of our politics.” the election consolidated the power of this country.

ABC News’ statement read:

“ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret the statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made by George Stephanopoulos during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week on March 10, 2024,” Stephanopoulos and ABC News said in a statement after the settlement was announced.

Trump filed his lawsuit against ABC News and Stephanopoulos in March. The federal lawsuit followed a heated discussion with Congresswoman Nancy Mace in which Stephanopoulos questioned Mace, an outspoken rape survivor, about her support of Trump.

“You supported Donald Trump for president,” Stephanopoulos told Mace. “Donald Trump was found liable for rape by a jury. A jury has found Donald Trump responsible for defaming the victim of this rape. It was confirmed by a judge…” he continued, before Mace interjected: “It wasn’t a criminal case, first of all.”

“Number two: I live with shame. And you’re asking me a question about my political choices and trying to shame me as a rape victim – I find it disgusting, and frankly, E. Jean Carroll’s comments when she received the verdict were joking about what she would buy “This is “Not the case… it makes it harder for women to speak out when they ridicule rape,” Mace also said.

Mace continued on that note, concluding, “I had to tell my story because no other women approached me, no rape victims were represented, and you are trying to shame me this morning. I just find it offensive and that’s why women don’t come forward.”

The dispute between the two centered on author E. Jean Carroll’s own lawsuit against Trump. Carroll accused Trump of rape, and a Manhattan jury found Trump liable for sexual assault and defamation. Judge Lewis Kaplan later clarified that the ruling was based on New York’s limited legal definition of “rape” and said that did not mean that Carroll “could not prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her, as many people use the word.” Understand ‘rape’ in general.” ”

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