History of David Muir in Timeline

David Muir is a prominent American journalist and anchor. He currently anchors ABC World News Tonight and co-anchors 20/20 on ABC. Muir took over as anchor of World News Tonight on September 1, 2014, succeeding Diane Sawyer. Prior to this, he was the weekend anchor and primary substitute anchor for the program.

Sections (1)

Full Timeline

November 8, 1973: David Muir Born

On November 8, 1973, David Jason Muir was born. He is an American journalist and anchor for ABC World News Tonight and co-anchor of the ABC News magazine 20/20.

May 1991: Graduated High School

In May 1991, David Muir graduated from Onondaga Central Junior-Senior High School.

1994: Started at WTVH-TV

In 1994, David Muir started working as an anchor and a reporter at WTVH-TV in Syracuse, New York.

May 1995: Graduated from Ithaca College

In May 1995, David Muir graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Ithaca College.

1995: Reported on Yitzhak Rabin's Assassination

In 1995, David Muir reported from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israel, and the Gaza Strip following the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

2000: Joined WCVB Television

In 2000, David Muir became an anchor and reporter for WCVB television in Boston.

2000: Left WTVH-TV

In 2000, David Muir concluded his work as anchor and reporter at WTVH-TV in Syracuse, New York.

September 11, 2001: Path of 9/11 Hijackers

On September 11, 2001, David Muir traced the path of the hijackers involved in the September 11 attacks.

August 2003: Joined ABC News

In August 2003, David Muir joined ABC News as anchor of the overnight news program World News Now and the early morning newscast World News This Morning.

2003: Left WCVB Television

In 2003, David Muir concluded his work as anchor and reporter at WCVB television in Boston.

2003: Joined ABC News

In 2003, David Muir joined ABC News and reported from international hotspots around the world.

September 2005: Reported on Hurricane Katrina

In September 2005, David Muir reported from inside the New Orleans Superdome as Hurricane Katrina hit and covered the humanitarian crisis, highlighting deteriorating conditions inside the Convention Center and Charity Hospital.

October 2006: Reported from Israeli-Lebanon Border

In October 2006, David Muir reported from the Israeli-Lebanon border on the Israeli war with Hezbollah.

2006: Co-Anchored Primetime

In 2006, David Muir co-anchored the newsmagazine Primetime.

March 2007: Covered Hamas Coup in Gaza

In March 2007, David Muir was in Gaza to cover the Hamas coup, reporting from inside the Gaza Strip.

June 2007: Anchor of World News Saturday

In June 2007, David Muir became the anchor of World News Saturday.

October 2007: Reported on Earthquake in Peru

In October 2007, David Muir reported from Peru after the worst earthquake to hit the country in more than two decades.

September 2008: Reported from Ukraine

In September 2008, David Muir reported from Ukraine, more than two decades after the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

April 2009: 20/20 Hour About Guns

In April 2009, David Muir and Diane Sawyer reported a 20/20 hour about guns in America, which had "disturbing results".

May 2009: Reporting on Homeless Children

In May 2009, David Muir's reporting on 20/20 revealed a significant increase in the number of homeless children in America.

September 7, 2009: NBC Nightly News Overtaken

On September 7, 2009, NBC Nightly News was overtaken by World News Tonight with David Muir as the country's most-watched evening newscast.

January 2010: Reported from Haiti after Earthquake

In January 2010, David Muir traveled to Haiti following the devastating earthquake, reporting on the destruction and the impact on the population.

February 2011: Anchor for Weekend Newscasts

In February 2011, David Muir became an anchor for both weekend newscasts, and the broadcast was named World News with David Muir.

June 2011: Reported from Tahrir Square and Fukushima

In June 2011, David Muir reported from Tahrir Square during the political revolution in Egypt, and from Fukushima, Japan following the deadly tsunami and nuclear power plant accident.

November 2012: Covered the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election

In November 2012, David Muir served as one of ABC's lead correspondents for the 2012 U.S. presidential election, and his interviews with Mitt Romney generated national headlines.

December 2012: Anchored Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting Coverage

In December 2012, David Muir anchored several hours of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting coverage as it unfolded and reported from the scene after President Obama visited the town.

January 2013: Reported from Inside Iran

In January 2013, David Muir reported from inside Iran, leading up to the nuclear talks. He was also the first Western journalist to report from Mogadishu, Somalia on the famine.

March 2013: Co-Anchor of 20/20

In March 2013, David Muir was promoted to co-anchor ABC's 20/20 with Elizabeth Vargas.

June 27, 2014: Announced as Anchor of ABC World News

On June 27, 2014, ABC News announced that David Muir would succeed Diane Sawyer as the anchor and managing editor of ABC World News.

September 1, 2014: Succeeded Diane Sawyer

On September 1, 2014, David Muir succeeded Diane Sawyer as the anchor on ABC's World News Tonight.

2014: George Stephanopoulos Role

In 2014, George Stephanopoulos was the lead anchor of breaking news and special event coverage for ABC News.

April 2015: Most Watched Evening Newscast

In April 2015, World News Tonight with David Muir became the country's most-watched evening newscast, outpacing NBC Nightly News for the first time since September 7, 2009.

2015: Interview with Hillary Clinton

In 2015, during an interview with David Muir, Hillary Clinton admitted it was a mistake to use a private e-mail server and offered her first apology.

2015: Most Watched Newscast

Since 2015, World News Tonight with David Muir has been the most watched newscast in the United States.

March 2016: Report on Heroin Crisis

In March 2016, David Muir released a year-long report on the heroin crisis in America, winning a CINE Golden Eagle Award for his reporting.

January 25, 2017: Interview with Donald Trump

On January 25, 2017, David Muir interviewed then President Donald Trump in the White House, which was Trump's first interview as president.

May 6, 2020: Interviewed President Trump on COVID Pandemic

On May 6, 2020, David Muir interviewed President Donald Trump about the COVID Pandemic.

2020: Ratings Exploded

In 2020, David Muir's ratings exploded during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, averaging around 12 million viewers, and becoming the most watched TV Program.

2020: George Stephanopoulos Role Ended

In 2020, George Stephanopoulos role as the lead anchor of breaking news and special event coverage for ABC News ended.

December 2021: Pressed Biden on Covid Surge Readiness

In December 2021, at the White House, David Muir pressed President Biden on whether the U.S. was prepared for the Covid surge.

2021: Lead Anchor of Breaking News

In 2021, David Muir became the lead anchor of breaking news and special event coverage for ABC News.

2021: Reported on Famine in Madagascar

In 2021, David Muir traveled to Southern Madagascar to report on what the United Nations World Food Program warned was the first climate-change driven famine. After the report aired, ABC News viewers donated over $3 million to the World Food Program.

February 2023: Interviews with President Biden

In February 2023, David Muir conducted two interviews with President Biden, one in Warsaw on U.S. support for Ukraine.

2023: Reported on Flooding in South Sudan

In 2023, David Muir traveled to South Sudan to report on the historic flooding that had destroyed communities, leading to severe malnutrition as war broke out to the north, in Sudan.

2023: Awards Received in 2023

In 2023, David Muir won the Emmy for Outstanding Live News Program and the Edward R. Murrow Award for Network TV Newscast.

June 6, 2024: Interviewed Biden on Hunter Biden Pardon

On June 6, 2024, David Muir interviewed President Biden in Normandy and pressed him on whether he would pardon his son, Hunter Biden, to which Biden responded he would not.

September 10, 2024: Moderated Presidential Debate

On September 10, 2024, David Muir and Linsey Davis moderated a presidential debate on ABC News between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, which was watched by nearly 70 million Americans. Muir fact-checked Trump for making false statements and pressed Harris on various issues.

December 1, 2024: Biden Pardoned Hunter Biden

On December 1, 2024, President Biden reversed course and pardoned his son Hunter Biden. This came after he was interviewed by David Muir on June 6, 2024 and pledged that he would not pardon his son.

2024: Awards Received in 2024

In 2024, David Muir received the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism and won the Emmy for Outstanding Live News Program and the Edward R. Murrow Award for Network TV Newscast.