White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt slammed ABC News correspondent Terry Moran over a now-deleted series of social media posts criticising senior adviser Stephen Miller and US President Donald Trump. “Last night, in a since-deleted post, so-called ‘journalist’ @TerryMoran went on a rampage against Stephen Miller and called President Trump ‘a world class hater.’ This is unhinged and unacceptable,” Leavitt wrote on X. “We have reached out to @ABC to inquire about how they plan to hold Terry accountable,” she added.The controversy erupted after Moran posted sharp criticism of Miller- describing him as defined more by animosity than intellect. He alleged that Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, was not just the ideological engine behind Trumpism, but a figure whose antagonistic nature “was visible in his demeanour and approach.” Moran didn’t spare Trump either, claiming the former president’s antagonism primarily served “to enhance his self-image.” Although the ABC journalist later removed the posts, screenshots had already gone viral. Vice President JD Vance weighed in, calling Moran’s remarks “an absolutely vile smear of Stephen Miller.” The heated exchange came as Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, responding to escalating unrest near Paramount, California, where protesters attempted to disrupt Border Patrol operations. Stephen Miller, known for his hardline stance on immigration and his role in crafting numerous Trump-era policies, characterised the ongoing demonstrations as an “insurrection.” He declared on X, “We will take back America.” Miller previously served as communications aide to Sen. Jeff Sessions and has continued to play a central role in the Trump administration’s policy strategies, including the controversial One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Meanwhile, Terry Moran, based in Washington, DC, covers the White House, Supreme Court, and presidential campaigns for ABC News. He has publicly shared his political insights before, noting last year that he accurately predicted Trump’s 2016 win and expects a repeat in 2024. Despite asserting he doesn’t endorse any particular political view, Moran has framed Trump as a nationalist figure rather than a conventional politician. His April interview with Trump, marking the president’s first 100 days back in office, featured heated exchanges on deportations, including the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and alleged MS-13 ties. This latest flashpoint follows ABC’s recent $15 million defamation settlement with Trump over anchor George Stephanopoulos’s language when referencing the civil sexual abuse ruling in the E. Jean Carroll case. Trump maintains his innocence in that matter.
