Republican Rep. Nancy Mace and ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos clashed in a heated interview over Mace's endorsement of former President Donald Trump, with Mace accusing Stephanopoulos of attempting to 'shame' her.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos engaged in a heated exchange on Sunday's "This Week" program, with Mace accusing Stephanopoulos of trying to "shame" her for endorsing former President Donald Trump.
The confrontation arose after Stephanopoulos played a clip of Mace discussing her experience as a victim of rape and asked her how she could reconcile her endorsement of Trump with the testimony presented in the clip.
Nancy Mace Accuses George Stephanopoulos of 'Shaming' Her for Trump Support in Heated Exchange
"How do you square your endorsement of Donald Trump with the testimony we just saw?" Stephanopoulos inquired.
Undeterred, Stephanopoulos repeated the claim a total of ten times during the interview, despite the fact that a jury had actually determined Trump was liable for "sexual abuse," which has a distinct definition under New York law.
Nancy Mace Accuses George Stephanopoulos of 'Shaming' Her for Trump Support in Heated Exchange
Mace, visibly irritated by Stephanopoulos's persistent questioning, accused him of attempting to shame her for her political beliefs.
"You're trying to shame me for who I endorsed. That's exactly what you're doing," Mace declared.
Nancy Mace Accuses George Stephanopoulos of 'Shaming' Her for Trump Support in Heated Exchange
Stephanopoulos's comments have drawn criticism from some legal experts, who argue that his repeated use of the term "rape" was inaccurate and could potentially harm defamation claims filed against Trump in the future.
"The fact that a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse, but not rape, is a distinction that Stephanopoulos chose to ignore. This could potentially bolster Trump's defamation case against ABC," said law professor Michael Gerhardt.
Nancy Mace Accuses George Stephanopoulos of 'Shaming' Her for Trump Support in Heated Exchange
In response to the interview, Trump touted a recent legal victory in Florida that allowed his defamation lawsuit against ABC and Stephanopoulos to move forward.
"A BIG WIN TODAY IN HIGH FLORIDA COURT AGAINST ABC FAKE NEWS, AND LIDDLE’ GEORGE SLOPADOPOLUS," Trump posted on his Truth Social account.
ABC News has declined to comment on Trump's lawsuit or the interview between Stephanopoulos and Mace.
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between media outlets and political figures, particularly in the aftermath of the Trump presidency. Critics of the media have accused some outlets of bias and unfair coverage, while journalists have defended their right to hold public figures accountable.
The Mace-Stephanopoulos exchange serves as a reminder of the challenges journalists face when reporting on sensitive and controversial issues, balancing the need for accuracy and fairness with the demands of a competitive and often polarized media landscape.
