Trump slams Jonathan Karl as ‘third-rate news anchor’, urges supporters not to buy his book

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump launched a sharp attack criticizing what he described as “fake news.” In his post, he specifically targeted ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl, accusing him of publishing a book filled with fabricated claims.

He urged his supporters not to buy the book, without naming it directly, referring to Karl’s recent release, 'Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America'.

Trump has long been vocal about his distrust of certain media outlets, often accusing them of distorting facts. This ongoing tension has led to multiple disputes and legal challenges. One such example includes the lawsuit against the BBC. Earlier, ABC News had also settled a defamation case brought by Trump, agreeing to pay millions as part of the resolution.

Trump slams ‘fake news’ of Jonathan Karl on Truth Social

Trump returned to Truth Social and once again criticized the media, accusing outlets of pushing what he calls “fake news.”

On Saturday, April 4, he focused his attention on ABC News journalist Karl. In a post, he described Karl as a “third-rate news anchor” and called ABC “the worst and most corrupt Network in the business.” Trump claimed Karl had written a book about him that, in his view, contains stories and “reporting” that have no connection to the truth.

He also brought up a previous settlement with the network, writing, "ABC was already forced to pay me $16,000,000 because of their false and misleading reporting. That was a Liddle’ George Slopadopolus error, but Karl is worse. A waste of time - Fictitious quotes. Don’t buy the book! President DJT."

Trump seemed to be referring to George Stephanopoulos, a senior anchor at ABC News and co-host of the Sunday program 'This Week.' The spelling appears deliberate, and he described it as an “error.”

According to NPR, Stephanopoulos had earlier been involved in a notable exchange where he questioned Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace about her support for Trump.

Over time, Trump has continued to criticize outlets, often saying that the press is, quote, “very corrupt.” This ongoing dispute has extended into legal action as well. His multi-billion-dollar lawsuit against the BBC is set to go to trial in February 2027. 

The BBC has asked a US court to dismiss the $10 billion case, warning that allowing it to move forward could have a “chilling effect” on its reporting about the president.

Jonathan Karl's book talks about the 2024 election

Trump’s latest criticism of Karl appears to be connected to his published book, “Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America.” The book is a non-fiction account that explores the 2024 United States presidential election and the early days of Trump’s second term, as per Wikipedia.

It includes insights gathered from interviews with individuals involved in the Trump campaign, as well as figures from the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris campaigns. The narrative also draws on conversations involving people such as Trump and Hunter Biden, aiming to give a vivid view of the political scenario during that period.

The book was released on October 28, 2025, and is available for purchase on platforms such as Amazon.