History of David Muir in Timeline

David Muir is a prominent American journalist and news anchor. He is best known for anchoring ABC World News Tonight, a position he has held since succeeding Diane Sawyer in 2014. Muir also co-anchors the ABC News magazine 20/20. His work is based in New York City as part of the ABC broadcast-television network's news division. Before becoming the primary anchor, Muir served as the weekend anchor and primary substitute anchor for World News Tonight.

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Full Timeline

1995: Reporting from Israel and Gaza

In 1995, David Muir's reports from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israel, and the Gaza Strip following the assassination of Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin earned him top honors from the Radio-Television News Directors Association.

September 11, 2001: Tracing 9/11 hijackers

On September 11, 2001, David Muir traced the path of the hijackers involved in the September 11 attacks, earning him the regional Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting, the National Headliner Award, and Associated Press honors.

August 2003: Joins ABC News

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

September 2005: Reporting on Hurricane Katrina

In September 2005, David Muir reported from inside the New Orleans Superdome as Hurricane Katrina hit and stayed in New Orleans to report on the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

October 2006: Reporting from the Israeli-Lebanon Border

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

March 2007: Reporting from Gaza

In March 2007, David Muir reported from inside the Gaza Strip covering the Hamas coup.

June 2007: Anchor of World News Saturday

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

October 2007: Reporting from Peru Earthquake

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

September 2008: Reporting 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 America

In April 2009, David Muir and Diane Sawyer reported a 20/20 hour about guns in America getting "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 Ahead of World News Tonight

On September 7, 2009, before David Muir took over, NBC Nightly News was ahead of World News Tonight.

January 2010: Reporting from Haiti Earthquake

In January 2010, David Muir traveled to Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake that killed over 220,000 people.

February 2011: Anchor of 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: Reporting 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: Lead Correspondent for 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.

December 2012: Coverage of Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting

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

January 2013: Reporting from Iran

In January 2013, David Muir reported from inside Iran, leading up to the nuclear talks.

March 2013: Co-anchor of ABC's 20/20

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

June 27, 2014: Named Anchor and Managing Editor 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: Succeeding Diane Sawyer on ABC World News Tonight

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

2014: George Stephanopoulos as lead anchor

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

April 2015: World News Tonight Becomes Most-Watched 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: Hillary Clinton E-mail Apology

During an interview with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2015, she admitted it was a mistake to use a private e-mail server and offered her first apology to the American people.

March 2016: Release of Heroin Crisis Report

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 President Donald Trump

On January 25, 2017, David Muir interviewed then-president Donald Trump in the White House. It was Trump's first interview as president, five days after inauguration.

May 6, 2020: Interview with President Donald Trump about COVID Pandemic

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

2020: Ratings Explode

In 2020, David Muir's ratings exploded during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic along with the other Evening News programs, averaging around 12 million viewers, and becoming the most-watched TV program.

2020: Joint Interview with Biden and Harris

In 2020, ahead of the presidential election, David Muir conducted the first joint interview with Democratic nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, then-senator Kamala Harris.

2020: George Stephanopoulos no longer lead anchor

Until 2020, George Stephanopoulos was the lead anchor of breaking news and special event coverage for ABC News.

December 2021: Interview with President Biden on Covid Surge

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 Coverage for ABC News

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

2021: Reporting on Climate-Change Driven Famine in Madagascar

In 2021, David Muir traveled to Southern Madagascar to report on what the United Nations World Food Program warned was the world's first climate-change driven famine. His report earned a George Polk Award and two News & Documentary Emmy Awards.

February 2023: Interviews with President Biden in Warsaw

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

2023: Reporting on South Sudan Flooding

In 2023, David Muir traveled to South Sudan to report on the historic flooding that had destroyed communities. Muir's report South Sudan: Isolated by Water and War earned a News & Documentary Emmy, and anchored ABC News’ climate coverage recognized with a Alfred I. duPont-Columbia award.

2023: Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Awards

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: Interview with President Biden in Normandy

On June 6, 2024, David Muir interviewed President Joe Biden in Normandy, during which Biden said he would not pardon his son, Hunter Biden.

September 10, 2024: Moderating Presidential Debate

On September 10, 2024, David Muir and Linsey Davis moderated a presidential debate on ABC News between former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Muir frequently fact-checked Trump and pressed Harris on various issues, sparking claims of bias.

December 1, 2024: Biden Pardons Son

On December 1, 2024, Joe Biden reversed course, pardoning his son, Hunter Biden after previously telling David Muir he would not.

2024: Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism

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