ABC Avoids News of U.S.-Greenland Military Deal, Bashes Clancy Holdout Juror Instead

Nicholas Spinnato
September 18th, 2026 11:35 PM

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On Friday, ABC’s World News Tonight was the only network evening newscast to avoid the news of a U.S. deal with Denmark that would give the U.S. military rights to Greenland and bar adversaries like China and Russia from building bases on the island. 

After all networks led with news of Trump banning reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, ABC was the only network not to shift to news of the Greenland deal. Instead, it decided to go back to bashing the lone holdout juror in the Linday Clancy murder mistrial.

As a graphic behind him read “Holdout Clancy Juror Defends Decision,” anchor David Muir said, “The lone holdout juror who would not acquit, leading to a mistrial, breaking his silence tonight.”

 

 

Reporter Aaron Katerky began his story by reading a statement from the holdout, now named as Michael Desronvil, whose statement, as read by Katersky, stated, “I didn't have any doubts. As I tried to explain different possible theories during deliberation. I kept getting cut off as if I had doubts based on the evidence presented.”

But Katersky used comments from other jurors in a seeming attempt to say Desronvil was lying. He said, “In the days after the mistrial, some of his fellow jurors complained about him.”

Katersky played a clip from an interview with a juror named Paula, who infamously told CBS Mornings’ Gayle King that the holdout juror was a black man. Paula said, “He was very arrogant. He really did not take anything that anybody said,” while another juror, in an interview with Katersky, said the process with the holdout was “definitely frustrating.”

A recent NewsBusters study showed broadcast network coverage, including from ABC, has vilified the lone holdout while defending Clancy.

Meanwhile, on CBS Evening News, anchor Tony Dokoupil gave a brief synopsis of the Trump-Greenland deal immediately following a story on White House press bans:

 

 

Also today, President Trump announced a new deal with Greenland after threatening to take the island, citing U.S. Security concerns. The president said the agreement granted the U.S. “permanent control over Greenland's security and all other needs.” Denmark, which handles the island's foreign policy, said the deal will be signed next week.

NBC Nightly News also covered the Greenland deal, but, to their credit, also added mention of Greenland in a combined opening lede on the CNN, MS NOW, and Politico bans:

Hallie Jackson led off: “And we're coming on the air with two major headlines out of the White House, with President Trump now saying he wants to ban three well-known media outlets as he's also announcing a new deal for the U.S. Military in Greenland.”

 

 

After the full Greenland story aired, Jackson returned to the Greenland news: “To that other breaking headline now. President Trump is announcing a deal that, he says, gives the U.S. Permanent control over security in Greenland.”

However, NBC national security correspondent Courtney Kube seemed partially skeptical of the deal, but explained most of its details: (Click “expand”)

Yeah, Hallie. President Trump says this agreement gives the U.S. the ability to secure Greenland by whatever means necessary forever. Now, he writes on social media that the U.S. will immediately develop a large military presence in Greenland. But it's not clear what exactly is different with this new agreement. The U.S. already has a small military presence at a Space Force base there in Greenland. 

Now, Greenland is a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark. They have welcomed the U.S. Military amid concerns that Russia and China were expanding their presence in the Arctic. President Trump says this agreement means that no adversary can ever have a military base there without U.S. approval. The Danish prime minister's office saying the three countries are expected to sign this agreement at the U.N. General Assembly next week. 

On the details of the deal, FOX News Digital wrote, “President Donald Trump struck a sweeping agreement with Denmark and Greenland this week granting the United States permanent military rights on the strategically placed Arctic island.”

ABC decided to omit the Greenland deal and avoided possibly one of the biggest foreign policy achievements of the second Trump term just so it could continue to bash the lone Clancy holdout in an early slot of the show.

The transcripts are below. Click "expand":

ABC World News Tonight

Septemeber 18, 2026

6:34:58 PM Eastern

DAVID MUIR: There was also breaking news in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial tonight. The lone holdout juror who would not acquit, leading to a mistrial, breaking his silence tonight. And this evening, we now hear from Lindsey Clancy's husband and his new wife. Here's Aaron Katersky.

[Cuts to report]

JUDGE: I'm going to declare a mistrial.

AARON KATERSKY: Two weeks after a deadlocked jury forced a mistrial on the case against Lindsey Clancy, the lone holdout juror is breaking his silence, explaining why he refused to join the other 11 jurors who wanted to acquit Clancy of murdering her children by reason of insanity. 

48-year-old Michael Desronvil saying in a statement, “I didn't have any doubts. As I tried to explain different possible theories during deliberation. I kept getting cut off as if I had doubts based on the evidence presented.”In the days after the mistrial, some of his fellow jurors complained about him.

PAULA (JUROR): He was very arrogant. He really did not take anything that anybody said.

NICK DARGIE (JUROR): It was definitely frustrating.

KATERSKY: Juror told us the holdout did voice doubt.

DARGIE (JUROR): He explicitly said, you know, I don't know if the prosecution or the defense proved their case.

KATERSKY: But this Desronvil says, “Based on all the physical evidence, witnesses, and what the prosecution presented, I thought it was enough proof that she, Clancy, knew exactly what she was doing and planned.” His words, echoing what prosecutors have claimed.

PROSECUTOR SHANAN BUCKINGHAM: She knew exactly what she was doing. She drew her husband out of the house, their father, so that she had the opportunity and the time T carry out these murders.

(...)

CBS Evening News

September 18, 2026

6:34:37 PM Eastern

TONY DOKOUPIL: Also today, President Trump announced a new deal with Greenland after threatening to take the island, citing U.S. Security concerns. The president said the agreement granted the U.S. “permanent control over Greenland's security and all other needs.” Denmark, which handles the island's foreign policy, said the deal will be signed next week.

(...)

NBC Nightly News

September 18, 2026

6:35:35 PM Eastern

HALLIE JACKSON: To that other breaking headline now. President Trump is announcing a deal that, he says, gives the U.S. Permanent control over security in Greenland. Let's get right to our senior national security correspondent, Courtney Kube. 

Courtney. In practical terms, what does this deal actually mean?

COURTNEY KUBE: Yeah, Hallie, President Trump says this agreement gives the U.S. the ability to secure Greenland by whatever means necessary forever. Now, he writes on social media that the U.S. will immediately develop a large military presence in Greenland. But it's not clear what exactly is different with this new agreement. The U.S. already has a small military presence at a space force base there in Greenland. 

Now, Greenland is a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark. They have welcomed the U.S. Military amid concerns that Russia and China were expanding their presence in the Arctic. President Trump says this agreement means that no adversary can ever have a military base there without U.S. approval. The Danish prime minister's office saying the three countries are expected to sign this agreement at the U.N. General Assembly next week. Hallie?

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