In a significant legal development, ABC News and George Stephanopoulos have reached a settlement with Donald Trump, resolving a defamation lawsuit filed by the former president. The settlement involves a $15 million charitable contribution to a future presidential foundation or museum established by or for Trump, mirroring similar institutions created by past U.S. presidents. Additionally, ABC News will cover $1 million in Trump's legal expenses.

As part of the agreement, ABC News and Stephanopoulos published an editor's note expressing regret for statements made about Trump during a March 10, 2024, interview with Rep. Nancy Mace on "This Week." The note, appended to the online article, acknowledges the network's and Stephanopoulos' remorse.

The lawsuit stemmed from comments made by Stephanopoulos during the interview, where he asserted that Trump had been found "liable for rape" in a civil case. This statement, repeated multiple times, became the basis of Trump's defamation claim. While a jury found Trump liable for "sexual abuse," a legally distinct term under New York law, Judge Lewis Kaplan later clarified that the jury's decision didn't negate the common understanding of the term "rape."

Former President Trump and ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos reached an out-of-court settlement this week. (Getty Images)

Initially, Stephanopoulos defended his remarks, stating he wouldn't be deterred from his journalistic duties by threats. The settlement comes after a series of legal actions involving Trump, including dismissed charges related to the 2020 election and the classified records case. Trump is also pursuing a separate lawsuit against CBS News.

The settlement follows recent legal successes for Trump's legal team, overseen by senior legal advisor Boris Epshteyn. These include the dismissal of Special Counsel Jack Smith's election-related case and the classified records case, along with developments in the New York v. Trump case.