TL;DR
- Bob Costas calls Trump’s attacks on journalism “different in kind” from anything in U.S. history.
- Criticizes ABC News and CBS News for settling lawsuits with Trump.
- Denounces media capitulation to political pressure over business interests.
- Urges broadcasters to cover political and social issues tied to sports.
- Delivered remarks during the Mirror Awards ceremony in New York.
Bob Costas Uses Awards Speech to Defend Press Freedom
Veteran sportscaster Bob Costas delivered a searing critique of Donald Trump’s ongoing hostility toward journalism during his speech at the 2025 Mirror Awards in New York. The ceremony, hosted at the Edison Ballroom, was designed to honor Costas for his 50-year broadcasting legacy. Instead, it became a moment of defiance in support of press freedom.
“The free press is under attack. Democracy as we know it is under attack,” Costas declared.
Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, Costas used the platform to address what he sees as a coordinated effort by Trump and his allies to weaken journalism through lawsuits, FCC manipulation, and intimidation campaigns.
Trump’s Media Crackdown: A New Kind of Threat
In his speech, Costas pointed to the unique and troubling nature of Trump’s actions against the media.
“They’re different in kind to anything certainly in my lifetime and maybe in the history of the American presidency.”
One major example included Trump’s lawsuit against ABC, prompted by George Stephanopoulos’s repeated on-air statement that Trump was “found liable for rape” in the E. Jean Carroll case. Although the jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse—not rape—ABC settled for $15 million instead of issuing a correction.
“All they had to say was George misspoke,” Costas said. “They didn’t have to pay a $15 million ransom.”
CBS Under Pressure: The Redstone Connection
Costas then addressed CBS News and Shari Redstone, who currently controls its parent company, Paramount Global. Redstone is seeking to merge Paramount with Skydance Media, a deal requiring FCC approval.
To facilitate the merger, Redstone reportedly agreed to settle Trump’s lawsuit over a 60 Minutes segment for $20 million.
“Did she have to besmirch and undercut the gold standard of broadcast journalism, 60 Minutes?” Costas asked.
Costas called the payment a “ransom” and criticized it as a transactional cost tied to billion-dollar mergers.
Data Callout Box
| Network/Entity | Lawsuit Settled? | Payout (Reported) | Context/Trigger |
| ABC News | Yes | $15 million | George Stephanopoulos misstated jury verdict in E. Jean Carroll case |
| CBS News | Yes | $20 million | Redstone’s need for FCC approval of Paramount–Skydance merger |
| Mirror Awards | N/A | N/A | Bob Costas delivered his remarks at the awards ceremony on June 9, 2025 |
“MAGA Media” Is Not the Answer
Costas acknowledged that the media has made mistakes, but argued that legitimizing “MAGA media” as a corrective is dangerous.
“If the answer to that is Donald Trump’s view of the world… I’ll stay where we are,” he said.
He added that surrendering the press to partisan echo chambers betrays the democratic ideals a free media is meant to uphold.
Costas’ History of Political Commentary
Costas responded to sports fans who accuse him of “turning political.”
“You know what, if that’s what you think and you think it in defense of that guy, I wear that as a badge of honor.”
Costas has never shied from politically charged commentary. In 2012, he used his Sunday Night Football segment to address gun violence following the murder-suicide involving Jovan Belcher.
The Silence in Sports Broadcasting
The second half of Costas’ speech focused on the responsibility of sports media.
“These things need to be covered… not during the game, but at some point,” he urged.
He argued that with hundreds of hours of NFL coverage, surely someone could conduct a Meet the Press-style interview with Roger Goodell, the league’s commissioner. Costas criticized the sports media’s avoidance of complex issues out of deference to leagues.
“Sports isn’t brain surgery, but it doesn’t have to be brain dead either,” he concluded.
Conclusion: Standing Up for Journalistic Integrity
Bob Costas made it clear: political intimidation of the press must be met with resistance, not retreat. His speech was not simply about Donald Trump or lawsuits—it was a clarion call to safeguard press independence in a volatile political and business environment.
“This is not about being anti-Trump,” Costas said. “This is about being pro-truth, pro-accountability, and pro-democracy.”
