After nearly three decades as one of ABC News’ trusted anchors and reporters, Terry Moran is officially moving on—and he’s doing it on his own terms.
Just days after his very public exit from the network over controversial comments about Donald Trump and Stephen Miller, Moran is launching his own Substack channel to continue reporting independently.
And how did he announce it? Not in a press release, not in a TV interview—but right back on the same platform that got him in trouble in the first place: X (formerly Twitter).
The Tweet That Ended It All
Moran’s departure from ABC wasn’t exactly planned.
The veteran journalist had been with the network for 28 years, building a resume that included foreign correspondence, White House reporting, and years at Nightline.
But on Sunday night, he tweeted out some raw and scathing comments about Trump and former adviser Stephen Miller.
Trump, he added, is “a world-class hater” whose hatred is just a means to glorify himself.
The post was quickly deleted, but not before it caught fire on social media—especially among Trump supporters.
ABC execs acted fast, firing Moran for what they said was a “clear violation” of the network’s rules on impartiality and social media conduct.
From Mainstream Anchor to Substack Storyteller
Rather than retreat quietly, Moran’s response was bold.
He went public with his next move—announcing he’s launching a Substack newsletter where he plans to write, report, and engage directly with readers.
“I’m here, with you, on Substack,” he wrote in his post, describing it as “this amazing space.”
He added, “I’m going to be reporting and interviewing and just sharing with you and hoping to hear from you as well.”
He admitted it might take “a few days, maybe longer” to get things running, but emphasized he’s excited for the next chapter.
Following the Path Blazed by Jim Acosta
Moran isn’t the first big-name journalist to make the leap from cable news to independent media.
Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta has already made waves on Substack and, according to insiders, is earning more than he did on TV.
Acosta now freely shares his unfiltered views, like a recent piece criticizing Trump for deploying the National Guard during the LA pro-immigration protests.
One of the top comments on that post even suggested, “Maybe Terry Moran will be joining you.” Now, that’s aged well.
A Dramatic Fall Just Months After Presidential Interview
What made Moran’s exit even more dramatic was the timing.
Just a few months earlier, he had scored a rare one-on-one interview with Trump—an opportunity the former president said came about because he “had never heard of” Moran.
During that tense exchange, the two clashed over immigration policy.
Trump at one point snarked, “I picked you because I never heard of you… but you’re not being very nice.”
Inside ABC’s Reaction: Regret, But No Alternative
According to an ABC insider, Moran’s firing hit hard in the newsroom. “It’s just sad, honestly,” they said.
“He’s a long-time colleague, a good person, a family man.
But there was no alternative, especially in these times.”
The insider added that they understood what Moran was trying to express, but ultimately questioned his judgment: “Like, dude, put the phone down and go to bed.”
A Storied Career Now Heads in a New Direction
Moran’s resume is packed with accolades and high-profile roles.
He joined ABC in 1997 and went on to serve as Chief White House Correspondent, Chief Foreign Correspondent, and Nightline co-anchor.
Most recently, he had been a Senior National Correspondent.
That long career in traditional journalism is now taking a turn into a space where he can speak freely—but with a much riskier kind of spotlight.
What’s Next for Moran?
As Moran gets his Substack channel off the ground, all eyes will be on whether he can build the kind of audience—and impact—he once had through broadcast news.
One thing’s clear: he’s not shying away from controversy, and he’s betting big on authenticity in an era of increasing media polarization.
Whatever happens next, Moran seems ready to leave the world of polished newsroom scripts behind and embrace something a little messier, a little riskier—and a lot more personal.