Trump Lashes Out at ABC News Anchor Over Book on His Presidency

Former president criticizes Jonathan Karl's latest book, despite its release nearly 6 months ago

Apr. 4, 2026 at 5:23am

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty political office space, with warm sunlight streaming in through the windows and deep shadows cast across the room, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the aftermath of a political storm.The former president's latest tirade against a journalist's book reflects his ongoing battle to control the narrative around his tumultuous time in office.NYC Today

Former President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, criticizing his latest book about the Trump presidency despite the fact that it was released nearly six months ago. Trump claimed the book "bears no relationship to the truth" and called Karl a "third rate news 'anchor'."

Why it matters

Trump's attacks on the media, particularly over books and reporting about his presidency, have been a consistent pattern throughout his political career. This latest outburst highlights the former president's ongoing efforts to discredit and undermine critical coverage of his time in office.

The details

In a post on Truth Social, Trump did not explicitly name Karl's 2025 book "Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America," but claimed the journalist's "stories and 'reporting' bare no relationship to the truth." Trump also referenced a $16 million settlement ABC News paid him over false reporting related to the E. Jean Carroll case, calling it a "Liddle' George Slopadopolus error." The former president concluded by slamming Karl's book as "a waste of time" with "fictitious quotes."

  • Jonathan Karl's book "Retribution" was released in October 2025.
  • Trump made his comments criticizing the book on April 4, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who has a history of attacking media coverage and books about his presidency.

Jonathan Karl

The Chief Washington Correspondent for ABC News and co-anchor of the Sunday morning program 'This Week' who has written several books about the Trump presidency.

George Stephanopoulos

The ABC News anchor who incorrectly stated in a 2024 interview that Trump had been found 'liable for rape' in the civil case brought by E. Jean Carroll, leading to a $16 million settlement.

E. Jean Carroll

The woman who brought a civil case against Trump, in which a New York jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation, but not rape.

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What they’re saying

“Third rate news 'anchor' Jonathan Karl of ABC Fake News, the worst and most corrupt Network in the business, wrote another made up book about me where his stories and 'reporting' bare no relationship to the truth.”

— Donald Trump, Former President

The takeaway

Trump's continued attacks on the media, particularly over books and reporting about his presidency, underscore his ongoing efforts to discredit critical coverage and shape the narrative around his time in office. This latest outburst against ABC News and Jonathan Karl's book highlights the former president's combative relationship with the press.