Trump Demands ABC Fire Donna Brazile, Says Network Owes Him More After Settlement

President Donald Trump on Sunday demanded that ABC News fire contributor Donna Brazile after she criticized his administration, and he urged the network to pay him additional money following a prior multimillion-dollar settlement.

Brazile, a former Democratic National Committee chair, appeared on ABC’s "This Week" earlier Sunday and called Trump’s decision to strip Secret Service protection from former Vice President Kamala Harris "petty" and "vindictive." She also criticized Trump-era trade policies, saying tariffs had "created a level of uncertainty that the American people can’t afford." Hours after that appearance, Trump posted a series of messages on Truth Social that attacked Brazile and the network.

In his post, Trump called Brazile a "Low IQ 'commentator'" and questioned why ABC’s program hosted her, referencing a long-standing controversy in which Brazile admitted she shared debate questions when she was a DNC staffer. He wrote that she had been "totally discredited" and "FIRED by Fake News CNN for so doing," and he urged ABC to drop both Brazile and fellow contributor Chris Christie. Trump also said the network still owed him damages and demanded it "Pay me more!" He suggested ABC might face another lawsuit if it did not comply.

ABC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokeswoman for Brazile declined to immediately comment.

Brazile’s remarks on "This Week" focused on the removal of Secret Service protection for Harris and on trade policy, and they reflected mounting criticism from Democrats and some media commentators over the security decision. The network aired her comments in a segment moderated by the program’s host.

Trump’s public confrontation with ABC follows a settlement he reached earlier with the network, described by his post and subsequent reporting as multimillion-dollar. The specifics of that agreement and any ongoing legal or financial disputes between Trump and ABC were not detailed in Trump’s posts.

Calls by presidents and former presidents for networks to drop contributors are unusual but not unprecedented in the polarized media climate. Trump has a history of suing or threatening litigation against news organizations and has repeatedly used social media to press his demands directly to networks and audiences.

Donna Brazile previously served as interim DNC chair and has been a prominent Democratic strategist and political commentator. Chris Christie is a former New Jersey governor and a frequent television commentator and contributor. Both have appeared on broadcast news programs and newspapers for commentary on national politics.

Trump’s social-media messages also mocked ABC’s host by using a derisive spelling of his name, and they reiterated long-standing grievances the president has expressed about what he calls "Fake News" coverage. The exchange underscores ongoing tensions between the former president and mainstream news outlets over coverage, contributor selections and past legal disputes.

As of Monday morning, there was no sign ABC planned to sever ties with Brazile or Christie. The network traditionally evaluates contributors and guests on a case-by-case basis and has faced competing pressures from anchors, viewers and advertisers in determining on-air talent.

The dispute follows months of high-profile clashes between political figures and broadcast outlets over editorial choices, guest appearances and the role of cable and network news in shaping the political agenda. It also comes amid continuing debate over security protocols for current and former officials, and the political ramifications of those decisions.

Trump’s post and Brazile’s television comments are likely to reverberate through both political and media circles in the coming days as journalists, commentators and political actors respond to the demands and criticisms aired publicly on Sunday.