Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reached a settlement in his defamation case against ABC News. According to the settlement agreement, ABC will pay Trump $15 million as a charitable donation for his presidential foundation and museum, in addition to $1 million in legal fees. Furthermore, ABC is required to add an "editor's note" to relevant reports, expressing regret for any inaccurate statements.
The case arose in March of this year when ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos interviewed a Republican congresswoman and repeatedly mentioned Trump's alleged "rape" of writer E. Jean Carroll, asserting that Trump needed to bear civil liability as a result. However, the actual court ruling determined that Trump was liable for "sexual abuse," not "rape." Stephanopoulos used the term "rape" up to ten times during the program, prompting Trump's dissatisfaction, as he believed the statements constituted malicious defamation and disregarded the true court ruling, leading him to file a lawsuit.
Under the terms of the settlement, ABC has agreed to pay a total of $16 million in compensation for charitable donations and legal fees. Additionally, ABC must add an editor's note to the article published on its website in March, clarifying the facts and expressing regret for the inaccurate statements made during the program. Stephanopoulos and ABC officials have not commented on the outcome.
Following the settlement, Trump issued a statement declaring the result a significant victory for media accountability. He noted that the charitable donation would be used to support public causes and expressed hope that the case would serve as a warning to the media industry. He criticized some media outlets for their lack of respect for the facts and urged news organizations to adhere more strictly to professional ethics.
The settlement of this defamation case has reignited discussions about media accuracy and responsibility. As one of America's mainstream media outlets, ABC's incident not only has financial implications but also somewhat damages its credibility. Legal and media experts have pointed out that when covering public figures or sensitive events, the media should place greater emphasis on fact-checking to maintain the authenticity and credibility of news, thereby avoiding legal disputes stemming from negligence or misleading statements.