In a surprising twist, ABC News has renewed its commitment to George Stephanopoulos, awarding the veteran anchor a multi-year contract. This decision comes shortly after the network faced a high-profile legal loss involving former President Donald Trump. The move, first reported by the Los Angeles Times, signals ABC’s determination to retain Stephanopoulos despite recent turbulence.
According to sources familiar with the deal, Stephanopoulos, 63, will continue his role at ABC’s flagship morning show, Good Morning America. The contract’s specifics, including its duration and financial terms, remain undisclosed. Stephanopoulos reportedly earns an estimated $20 million annually, solidifying his position as one of the highest-paid personalities in network news.
This renewal follows a legal debacle earlier in the year when Trump sued Stephanopoulos over his repeated on-air claims that Trump was “found liable for rape” by a Manhattan jury. These comments referred to allegations made by E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of assaulting her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s. Carroll’s claims have been contested, with no concrete evidence provided to substantiate them.
The lawsuit culminated in Disney, ABC’s parent company, settling with Trump for $15 million and covering $1 million of his legal fees. This agreement included an apology issued jointly by ABC News and Stephanopoulos, a move that reportedly left the anchor “apoplectic” and humiliated. The settlement also exposed deep fissures within ABC News, with many journalists disheartened by the network’s decision to avoid a court battle.
As reported by the Times, the apology added to mounting concerns about how news organizations will navigate coverage of Trump’s potential return to the presidency. One insider described a sense of “dread” among staff, exacerbated by anticipated cost-cutting measures in the coming year. Despite these challenges, ABC opted to prioritize the stability of Good Morning America, which has recently slipped behind NBC’s Today in the Nielsen ratings.
Stephanopoulos has been a cornerstone of ABC News since joining Good Morning America in 2009. Alongside co-hosts Robin Roberts and Michael Strahan, he has brought a blend of hard-hitting journalism and accessible content to the morning show’s audience. With deeply entrenched viewing habits among morning television audiences, ABC appears wary of disrupting its lineup during a period of declining ratings.
The network’s reliance on Stephanopoulos is further underscored by the lack of an obvious successor. While he has faced criticism for his close ties to the Democratic Party—having served as a senior advisor to President Bill Clinton—his journalistic credentials and popularity have made him a critical asset to the network.
The legal battle with Trump and its fallout, however, have cast a shadow over Stephanopoulos’ career. Sources close to the anchor described him as furious over the settlement’s terms, particularly the requirement to publicly apologize to Trump. The statement issued in March read: “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week on March 10, 2024.”
This controversy comes at a pivotal time for ABC News, which has been grappling with industry-wide challenges such as declining viewership and budget constraints. The decision to extend Stephanopoulos’ contract suggests that the network views him as essential to its efforts to maintain a competitive edge in the fiercely contested morning show market.
While the renewal signals confidence in Stephanopoulos’ ability to weather the storm, it also reflects the precarious balancing act faced by modern news organizations. On one hand, ABC’s settlement with Trump highlights the legal and reputational risks associated with high-profile coverage of polarizing figures. On the other, the network’s decision to retain Stephanopoulos underscores the importance of experienced anchors in an era of fragmented audiences and intensifying competition.
For now, Stephanopoulos remains a central figure at ABC News, tasked with navigating the complexities of contemporary journalism while maintaining the trust of his viewers. Whether the network’s gamble will pay off remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the spotlight on George Stephanopoulos is unlikely to dim anytime soon.
