The first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris has ignited a firestorm of controversy — not over the candidates but the conduct of the moderators.
ABC News journalists David Muir and Linsey Davis, who presided over the debate, have come under intense scrutiny from various quarters, with critics accusing them of clear bias and unfair treatment.
The criticism has been particularly fierce from Trump supporters and conservative commentators. Donald Trump Jr., the former president’s eldest son, didn’t mince words.
“Weird how the hack moderators …are only ‘Fact checking’ Trump and allowing Kamala to lie nonstop. The Fake News is the enemy of the people,” he said.
The moderators “fact checked” Trump five times during the debate, but never fact checked Harris despite numerous lies and misinformation.
Trump himself said it was “three against one” during a post-debate interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity and in a statement on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“I thought that was my best Debate, EVER, especially since it was THREE ON ONE,” the former president wrote.
His sentiment was echoed by others on social media —
ABC News is finished. I’ve never seen anything like this. Just allowing Kamala to lie with impunity and debating against Trump. It’s 3 on 1!
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 11, 2024
Critics pointed to several exactly instances where they believe the moderators showed bias.
“She’s shaking her head as he mentions her Minnesota bail fund action, which is a fact. Her tweet is still live,” conservative commentator Guy Benson noted.
Benson also pointed out that there was no follow-up when Harris avoided addressing her past positions on issues like fracking, private health insurance, and gun control.
The Trump campaign echoed that outrage.
🚨 NEW AD 🚨
Here’s a reminder of one of Harris’ biggest lies that the ABC moderators let her get away with last night.
Since the media won’t hold her to account, we will. pic.twitter.com/SOLHGDfhkp
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 11, 2024
Despite the criticism, some political analysts suggest that the impact of moderator performance on voter perception may be limited.
Guy Benson noted that while a CNN snap poll of debate viewers gave Harris a win by a wide margin, Trump actually gained some ground on the top election issue among this group — the economy.
Take a look —
CNN’s snap poll of debate viewers gives Harris the win by a wide margin (~25 points), but on the top election issue, Trump actually gains some ground among this group: https://t.co/ZRZFxCmdaM
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) September 11, 2024
Perhaps it was conservative commentator Megyn Kelly who put it best in her four-minute reaction to the moderators.
Take a watch —
Megyn Kelly's rant about the debate is spot on. She speaks for many of us.
"I'm disgusted." pic.twitter.com/FpYEj84uGI— Ellie A (@EllieGAnders) September 11, 2024