Well, things have certainly gotten spicy at ABC News. The already simmering rivalry between George Stephanopoulos and David Muir has boiled over, thanks to Stephanopoulos’ offhand remark about President Joe Biden’s ability to serve another term.
After conducting a high-profile interview with Biden, Stephanopoulos was caught by TMZ making an unfiltered comment, “I don’t think he can serve four more years.” That casual sidewalk confession has sparked not just controversy, but also some low-key celebrations in Muir’s corner of the network.
Let’s rewind a bit. Stephanopoulos landed the coveted first post-debate interview with Biden, a move that infuriated Muir and his supporters. The president had just taken a beating after a poorly received debate, and the decision to go with Stephanopoulos for damage control only deepened the professional tension between the two anchors.
Muir, the anchor of World News Tonight and co-host of 20/20, had been gunning for that high-profile sit-down, hoping it would be his shot to shine. Instead, the White House picked Stephanopoulos, cementing the divide between the two ABC powerhouses.
Inside ABC, this rivalry has been brewing for years. Stephanopoulos and Muir both have their camps, and the tension behind the scenes has reportedly been palpable for some time. So, when Stephanopoulos’ comment about Biden hit the tabloids, it was like Christmas morning for Muir’s supporters.
BREAKING: ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos caught on video saying he doesn’t think Biden can serve another 4 years after his interview.
Stephanopoulos was intercepted in midtown Manhattan in footage released by TMZ.
Reporter: “Do you think Biden should step down? You’ve… pic.twitter.com/58FYwrWvqg
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 10, 2024
One network insider told RadarOnline that there were “private celebrations” among Muir’s camp over the scandal, with some quick to point out that Muir would never have been caught in such a mess. As one source said with a not-so-subtle dig, “David is the height of professionalism, and you won’t hear a subjective word from him.” Ouch.
The fallout has been swift, with ABC News president Debra O’Connell reportedly furious at Stephanopoulos for jeopardizing the network’s reputation. She issued him an ultimatum: apologize or face suspension. For a journalist of Stephanopoulos’ stature, this is a big deal. He’s been a fixture at ABC for years, but this kind of slip-up threatens to undermine the network’s precious neutrality. According to insiders, O’Connell was livid that Stephanopoulos, with all his experience, could make such a blunder, and there’s no question that the damage has already been done, regardless of any public backpedaling.
This isn’t the first time the Stephanopoulos-Muir rivalry has flared up. Back in 2021, the tension reportedly reached such a fever pitch that Stephanopoulos even threatened to leave the network. That crisis required none other than Disney’s Executive Chairman Bob Iger to step in, flying across the country to smooth things over. The result? A shiny new contract extension for Stephanopoulos and a temporary truce. But as this latest scandal shows, old wounds die hard, and the rivalry between ABC’s top anchors is far from over.
With Muir’s camp savoring the drama and Stephanopoulos scrambling to save face, ABC News is once again in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The question now is, can Stephanopoulos recover from this, or has this rivalry finally tilted in Muir’s favor? Stay tuned—because this media drama is far from its final act.
