Former TV Host Claims ABC News Had 75-Person Division to 'Get' Trump

Billy Bush alleges the network had a dedicated team to target the former president during the 2016 election.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:35am

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A dynamic, abstract painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and fractured lines in shades of red, white, and blue, conceptually representing the chaotic and partisan nature of media coverage surrounding Donald Trump.Allegations of media bias and attempts to 'get' Trump raise concerns about journalistic integrity and objectivity.Los Angeles Today

In a podcast interview, former TV host Billy Bush claimed that ABC News had a 75-person division dedicated to 'get' Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election. Bush alleged the network was determined to use the infamous 'Access Hollywood' tape to derail Trump's campaign, despite his objections that it was wrong to 'weaponize' the footage.

Why it matters

This claim, if true, would represent a serious breach of journalistic ethics and raise questions about the objectivity and fairness of ABC News' coverage of the 2016 election. It also highlights the long-standing tensions between the network and the former president, which have included high-profile retractions, settlements, and firings.

The details

Bush said he was aware of the alleged anti-Trump division at ABC News through a personal connection to the person who ran it. He claimed the network was determined to use the 'Access Hollywood' tape, which nearly derailed Trump's first presidential campaign, as a 'weapon' against him. Bush said he objected to this, arguing that the footage was simply 'chit-chat' between him and Trump that should not have been 'weaponized' for political purposes.

  • In 2017, ABC News was forced to retract a report alleging that fired National Security Adviser Michael Flynn would testify that Trump had ordered him to make contact with Russians about foreign policy while Trump was still a candidate.
  • In December 2024, just weeks before Trump was sworn into office for his second term, ABC News paid a $16 million settlement to Trump after he filed a defamation lawsuit earlier in the year for comments made by 'This Week' anchor George Stephanopoulos.
  • Last year, longtime ABC News correspondent Terry Moran was fired for attacking Trump and White House aide Stephen Miller on social media.

The players

Billy Bush

A former TV host who was swept up in the infamous 'Access Hollywood' tape that nearly derailed Trump's first presidential campaign.

Andy Lack

The former NBC News chairman who Bush says he had a meeting with before being ousted from the network.

Anderson Cooper

The CNN anchor who moderated the second presidential debate in 2016, where the 'Access Hollywood' tape was the first question asked.

Brian Ross

The former ABC News chief investigative correspondent who was forced out of the network after a false report about Michael Flynn and Trump.

George Stephanopoulos

The 'This Week' anchor who made false claims about Trump being 'found liable for rape' in the E. Jean Carroll case, leading to a $16 million settlement.

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What they’re saying

“ABC News had a division. They had a division dedicated with 75 people in it — because I knew the guy who ran the division, which was dedicated to basically getting him.”

— Billy Bush, Former TV Host

“I said, 'Andy, I understand what you want to do with this [the 'Access Hollywood' footage] and what you want to weaponize this because there's a debate on Sunday night, the second debate with Hillary and Donald.'”

— Billy Bush, Former TV Host

What’s next

ABC News has not yet responded to requests for comment on Bush's allegations. It remains to be seen if the network will address the claims or launch an internal investigation.

The takeaway

This story highlights the deep divisions and mistrust between the media and the Trump administration, with allegations of bias and attempts to 'get' the former president. It raises important questions about journalistic integrity and the need for the media to maintain objectivity, even in the face of intense political polarization.