Terry Moran is a senior national correspondent at ABC News. Over the weekend, his employer stopped him over a statement he posted to X (and subsequently deleted). Moran described White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller as “a richly blessed with the ability to hate.”
“You can see this just by looking at him, as you can see his hatred as his spiritual nourishment,” Moran writes. “He eats hatred.”
The tweet sparked a fierce responsibilities from Vice President JD Vance. explained It’s as an “absolutely despicable smear.” Of course, Vance has a right to that opinion. But White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt went a step further and declared that “we” (the federal government) would ask the ABC about the disciplinary action.
In a deleted post last night, he said, “journalist” @terrymoran He went wild against Stephen Miller and called President Trump “world-class hatred.”
This is unhunchable and unacceptable.
We reached out to @ABC To ask how they hold Terry… pic.twitter.com/hsgusjeivh
– KarolineLeavitt (@presssec) June 8, 2025
This is an example of the “jaw” textbook when the government tries to achieve censorship. Threat Inappropriate government behavior. It’s exactly like conservatives correctly disliked the previous administration. President Joe Biden, his senior advisers, and various federal employees will defeat social media companies to Browbeat’s social media companies that the Fed deems wrong, hatred or dangerous. They were not merely saying they opposed the moderation policies of major platforms. They raised the possibility of punitive laws against Facebook, Google and Twitter.
Leavitt is free to complain about Moran’s comments, as Vance did. But her insinuation that she is talking to Moran’s manager is read like a threat and therefore like an attempt at censorship. As Civil Liberties Lawyer Jenin Yunes pointed out in his reply to Leavitt, the Trump administration issued it. Presidential Order To prevent the jaw types that occurred under the previous White House. Turning around and doing the same thing is clearly hypocritical.
“Journalists and everyone else can say what they want about members of the administration (and something else) without fear of retaliation from the government.” I wrote it Younes. “We must delete this tweet and apologize for attempted tyranny and for not understanding basic constitutional concepts.”
As for Moran’s posts, it would probably have been unwise for a straight news reporter to share his painful speculation about Miller’s motivations. Mainstream media organizations have different rules for news reporters and commentators of opinions, which could mean that Moran violated the company’s social media policies. He has the first right to amend the US government, not regarding the ABC.
That said, these bans on reporters who share their views on social media seem increasingly outdated. Does anyone doubt that virtually every straight news journalist has deep ideological beliefs, perspectives and biases? Isn’t it better to know what they are actually thinking? Today, many Americans receive news from independent writers, content creators and influencers on social media, Substack, YouTube and elsewhere. It appears tasteless and not exactly useful for journalists to expect to hide their perspective.
Moran’s statement that Miller derives “psychic nourishment” from venting pure hatred is a bit dramatic. (Emperor Palpatine, AnyoneBut Miller is actually a fanatic supporter of deportation as well as violent or gang-connected illegal immigrants. everyone Who could be illegally in the country? He recently It is reportedly They shouted to representatives of Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) as they prioritized deportation of violent criminals. Miller reportedly wanted the Ice Agent to patrol Home Depot and seven patrols to arrest anyone who seemed to be legally not here.
Shaming like “fascists” and “Nazis” are often overused to describe prominent Republican figures. But it’s not honest to say that Miller will drop out as a kind of hatred.
