ABC News Anchor's Shocking Confession

David Muir of "ABC World News Tonight", 2021. Official White House photo by Adam Schultzo and courtesy of The White House. Public domain.

He may be America's most trusted anchor — but under that perfectly pressed blazer? David Muir is rocking jeans. That's right. While millions tune in nightly to "World News Tonight" for his crisp delivery and headline authority, the bottom half of Muir's news uniform is more laid-back dad than polished pro.

And fans? They can't get enough.

A Double Life in Denim

Muir, 51, finally revealed the truth in a recent interview with PEOPLE. "I generally have jeans on from the waist down," he confessed with a grin. "The first thing that we try to do is make sure my jeans aren't showing ... I really don't try to take myself too seriously but I always just joke, 'Don't tell anyone about the jeans and the boots!'"

It's the kind of behind-the-scenes detail that makes America's buttoned-up anchor feel like someone you'd grab a beer with — and social media agrees. TikTok thirst edits, Tumblr fan blogs, and "Daddy Muir" memes have exploded in recent months. Even Muir is aware.

"People will forward TikTok videos ... saying, 'When did you become Daddy?'" he told Syracuse.com. "I'll take it as a compliment, I think."

From Tuxedos to Mud Boots

Despite the jokes and viral fame, Muir doesn't let the spotlight change him. The Syracuse native may suit up for presidential debates and walk red carpets like the 2025 Time 100 Gala, but his heart is in upstate New York, where he spends weekends with his dog, Axel.

"It was pouring rain and I loved every second of it," he said of a recent Memorial Day trip, according to PEOPLE. "I have a German short-haired pointer, and for him, the biggest event of the weekend was discovering there was a beaver who had begun to build a dam inside the little boathouse."

Muir stood on the dock for hours with Axel, waiting for a glimpse of the animal. No lights. No cameras. Just a man and his dog under the stars. "There's something really fueling about that and connected about it," he said. "You just feel like you're home again."

The 'Daddy' Effect

But make no mistake — Muir's low-key lake life hasn't dulled his professional fire.

Since taking over the anchor desk from Diane Sawyer in 2014, Muir has made "World News Tonight" the most-watched newscast in America for seven years straight. He's co-anchored "20/20," reported from Vatican City, and raised $9 million for the World Food Program through climate crisis coverage from South Sudan and Madagascar.

And yet, it's the boots-and-jeans confession that's making headlines.

A Star Who's Still Grounded

It's this duality — serious journalist and down-to-earth guy — that makes Muir so magnetic. He knows the exact day of the week because his floor director, Shelly, tells him seconds before going live. "Because the news is hitting us at lightning speed," he explained to PEOPLE, "I literally will say just before we come on, 'It's great to have you Shelly on a Tuesday night?' And she says, 'Yes, David, it's Tuesday.'"

He's the guy who can host global leaders one day and spend the next watching beavers with a dog named Axel. No wonder the world loves him.

So, the next time you tune in and see Muir above the desk? Just know — below it, he might be in denim, boots, and one step away from heading back to the lake.

References: David Muir Reveals What He's Really Wearing Under the Anchor News Desk, and It's Not What You Think (Exclusive) | David Muir responds to 'Daddy' memes, reveals what he's wearing under anchor desk