Overview

• On the South Lawn, the president told Jonathan Karl “she’d probably go after people like you” and suggested “maybe they’ll come after ABC.”
• He added that ABC “paid me $16 million recently for a form of hate speech,” referencing the network’s December libel settlement.
• The exchange occurred as he boarded Marine One for a trip to London, with video of the remarks circulating via CNN and other outlets.
• ABC’s settlement followed a judge’s finding that viewers could have been misled by George Stephanopoulos’ on-air statements regarding the E. Jean Carroll case.
• Pam Bondi has said she will “go after” what she describes as hate speech following the killing of activist Charlie Kirk.