Veteran journalist Katie Couric remains outspoken in her criticism of President Donald Trump, despite increased targeting of vocal critics by the administration in 2025. The former NBC and CBS anchor has emerged as a prominent critic of the president, recently reaffirming her dedication to expressing her views freely, even after being labeled a “has-been” by him.
“Donald Trump has called me a ‘has-been,'” Couric stated in an interview with The Daily Beast on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. “But I’m just happy to be a ‘has-been’ who can speak her mind. I mean, honey, I’ve been in the tabloids for years… they’ve accused me of having a threesome with Matt Lauer. There’s a lot I can handle.”
In her discussion with the Beast, Couric explained that she now operates as an independent journalist, free from corporate influence over her coverage of current events. She described this as a liberating experience. Couric currently manages her venture, Katie Couric Media, which she co-started in 2017. She has vowed to continue speaking out against what she perceives as the erosion of societal norms during Trump’s second term.
Couric recalled an incident involving Richard Grenell, appointed by Trump to overhaul the Kennedy Center, who criticized her after she condemned the administration’s handling of the institution as disgraceful. The Kennedy Center’s official Instagram account responded by stating that the venue is for everyone, including Ms. Couric.
“I just thought, wow, they’re really thin-skinned — I’m obviously getting to somebody in that institution,” Couric commented to the Daily Beast.
Couric’s firm stance occurs amid a pattern of the Trump administration utilizing federal law enforcement to pursue political adversaries. A notable incident occurred in late August when FBI agents conducted an early-morning search of former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s home. This action, part of an investigation into alleged leaks of sensitive national security information, was viewed by legal experts as a concerning escalation in the use of law enforcement against political opposition.
Bolton served as national security adviser from 2018 to 2019 before his relationship with Trump soured. Trump claimed he fired Bolton, while Bolton stated he resigned. Since then, Bolton has been a vocal critic of Trump, accusing him of prioritizing personal political gains over national security. By Thursday, October 16, 2025, a federal grand jury had indicted Bolton, with Attorney General Pam Bondi asserting that no one is above the law.
The Justice Department’s assertive stance reflects a pattern in Trump’s second term, with the administration initiating what critics describe as retaliatory investigations against those who have scrutinized Trump, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and James Comey, who have been indicted, and Sen. Adam Schiff, who has no charges against him currently.
Critics have compared the targeting of dissenters to authoritarian tactics historically. Legal experts and former officials warn that the same mechanisms could be used against anyone opposing the administration, from judges ruling against policies to journalists exposing corruption, to citizens posting critiques on social media.
For Couric and other media figures, the choice is clear: either continue to speak out despite potential risks or remain silent amid growing pressure. Couric’s response to being called a “has-been” underscores her intention to maintain her critical voice, joining a growing number of public figures who refuse to be intimidated by the administration’s tactics against dissent.
