Fired ABC Reporter Terry Moran Claps Back After Trump Tweet Fallout

Veteran journalist Terry Moran is not going quietly after his abrupt firing from ABC News over an anti-Trump social media post. The 65-year-old reporter is sparring with his former employer, accusing the network of breaking a verbal agreement to renew his contract—despite ABC's claim that his ouster was inevitable.

Moran was dismissed last week, just two days after posting—and deleting—a scathing tweet describing former President Donald Trump and senior advisor Stephen Miller as “richly endowed with the capacity for hatred.” ABC executives cited the post as a “clear violation” of the network’s social media policy.

But Moran insists it wasn’t a drunken outburst. In an interview with The New York Times, he called the tweet a product of reflection during a “meditative walk” with his dog. “I was thinking about our country, and what’s happening, and just turning it over in my mind,” he said. Later that night, he wrote and posted the message. “That’s true,” he said of the tweet. “I don’t think you should ever regret telling the truth. And I don’t.”

The controversy escalated after ABC issued a statement suggesting Moran’s contract was already expiring and that his tweet merely sealed the decision not to renew. That characterization enraged Moran, who insists there was a verbal agreement in place to extend his contract for another three years. “We had a deal,” he said bluntly, accusing ABC of “bailing” on their promise.

The backlash was swift. GOP Senator J.D. Vance slammed Moran’s post as an “absolutely vile smear” and demanded an apology from the network. An anonymous ABC insider told Fox News that Moran had left executives with “no other choice,” saying, “We fing took it seriously and dealt with it pretty gd*mn quickly.” They claimed the network wanted to avoid a prolonged internal probe and decided to fire him almost immediately.

Despite the professional blow, Moran is pivoting quickly. He’s launched a Substack newsletter and gained over 90,000 subscribers within his first week. In his debut post, he confirmed his exit from ABC after nearly three decades, and declared his intention to forge a new, independent path in journalism.

“I’m here, with you, on Substack, this amazing space—and I can’t wait to get at it,” he wrote. “To get at the important work we all have to do in this time of such trouble for our country.”

He promised readers a mix of reporting, interviews, and personal reflections. “I’ve got to get some stuff sorted out,” he added, “but I can’t wait to see you.”

Earlier that day, Moran was spotted barefoot and visibly stressed, pacing and biting his nails outside his home. But if the Substack boom continues—and if ousted media figures like CNN’s Jim Acosta are any indication—Moran may soon find his voice and his audience growing louder than ever.