Ex-ABC host Terry Moran says Trump is ‘alpha male’ until Putin enters the room

On CNN’s 'NewsNight', Terry Moran discussed Trump’s Alaska meeting with Vladimir Putin, debating who had the upper hand and what to expect on Ukraine
UPDATED AUG 15, 2025
Former ABC reporter Terry Moran said that he had observed US President Donald Trump struggling to maintain dominance whenever Russian President Vladimir Putin walked into a room (Screengrab/CNN, Getty Images)
Former ABC reporter Terry Moran said that he had observed US President Donald Trump struggling to maintain dominance whenever Russian President Vladimir Putin walked into a room (Screengrab/CNN, Getty Images)


 

WASHINGTON, DC: Former ABC News anchor Terry Moran said on Thursday, August 14, that President Donald Trump is an "alpha male" every time he walks into a room, unless Russian President Vladimir Putin is in there.

Moran made the statement on the latest segment of 'NewsNight' from CNN, where host Abby Phillip spoke with her panelists about Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska taking place on Friday, August 15, and asked who has the upper hand and what people can expect to come of the meeting when it comes to Ukraine.

Terry Moran talks about Donald Trump's 'alpha male' personality

During the segment, author and columnist Batya Ungar-Sargon told Abby Phillip that the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on Friday is the Russian dictator's "last chance to prove to Trump that he is a logical actor and wants to bring an end" to the war.

Meanwhile, Phillip replied that Putin has been "very clear" that the Ukraine invasion was about his view of the "Russian Empire".

Interestingly, Terry Moran, who was fired from ABC after comments about Trump's advisor Stephen Miller, agreed with Philip and added his take on Trump’s relative male dominance around Putin.

U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters in the Oval Office on August 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump signed a proclamation on the 90th anniversary of Social Security to highlight his administration's efforts on the program. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters in the Oval Office on August 14, 2025, in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

He said, "There’s something about Trump and Putin, from the beginning. I was in Helsinki as well. Trump is an alpha male in every room he walks into until Vladimir Putin is there."

''I was there. You could feel it in the room. Now I’m not saying that Putin has anything on him, but I think — There’s no question that he has trouble with this guy," Moran added.

After his statement, Ungar-Sargon chimed in and said, "This sounds like RussiaGate hoax to me." This caused some crosstalk, as Phillip and Moran said it’s more of an "interpersonal thing" between the two leaders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the New Ideas For New Times Forum at the Russia National Center on July 3, 2025, in Moscow, Russia. Putin visited a forum, hosted by Kremlin-backed Agency for Strategic Initiatives, prior to his announced telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the New Ideas For New Times Forum at the Russia National Center on July 3, 2025, in Moscow, Russia (Contributor/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, former MSNBC host Tiffany Cross said that there’s "something nefarious" between Trump and the Russians, adding that while some may call Trump an alpha male, "He’s not an alpha-male to me."

"He’s an insecure, very insecure little … person," she said.

Internet slams Terry Moran over his comments about Donald Trump

Several internet users slammed Terry Moran as he said that President Donald Trump is an "alpha male" every time he walks into a room, unless Russian President Vladimir Putin is in there.

An online comment read, "Moran makes dinner reservations under Bitter, party of one," while one added, "Moran lashed out at Trump. It didn't end well."

A person stated, "Terry Moran is another butt-hurt Acosta," whereas one added, "Terry Moron........FLMAO."

Another one wrote, "Two fired losers, including a Beta's Beta, saying Alpha male Donald Trump gets upstaged by Putin is a joke," while one commented, "Caleb wants you to know that Terry Moran was fired."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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