Trump-Harris debate moderators under fire over alleged bias
ABC moderators came under fire after former President Donald Trump found himself repeatedly on the defensive during Tuesday night’s highly anticipated debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, aired on the network.
The debate, moderated by ABC’s David Muir and Linsey Davis, became a flashpoint for controversy as Republicans and Trump supporters expressed outrage over what they perceived as biased fact-checks by the moderators against Trump and a softer approach toward Harris’ disputed statements.
Kamala Harris, 59, came well-prepared, immediately targeting Trump’s pride and political legacy. She referenced her conversations with military leaders, claiming they found Trump to be a “disgrace” and said world leaders were “laughing” at him.
She further alleged that attendees of his rallies were leaving early due to “exhaustion and boredom,” following his 2020 electoral defeat.
In a striking moment, Harris attacked Trump’s credibility, stating that “he was fired by 81 million people.”
These sharp, pointed remarks rattled Trump, 78, as he struggled to defend his record while facing Harris’ accusations and the moderators’ fact-checks.
When Trump claimed that crime was on the rise due to migrants allowed into the country under Harris’ oversight, Muir quickly interjected, stating, “President Trump, as you know, the FBI says overall violent crime is actually coming down.”
This remark sparked a fiery rebuttal from Trump, who countered, “They didn’t include the cities with the worst crime,” referring to Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago.
The Republican nominee emphasized that these cities, often governed by Democrats, are grappling with severe crime issues.
Another fact-check came when Trump claimed that President Biden had sent Harris to negotiate with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, resulting in the outbreak of war just three days later.
Harris denied the allegation, with Muir asking if she had ever met Putin, to which she replied with a resounding “no,” calling Trump’s claim another one of his “lies.”
One of the most contentious exchanges occurred when Trump referenced a 2019 controversy involving former Virginia Democratic Governor Ralph Northam.
Trump recounted the governor’s remarks, incorrectly identifying him as from West Virginia, and claimed that Northam advocated for aborting babies after birth.
Linsey Davis promptly interrupted, stating, “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.”
Conservatives were quick to point out that six states and the District of Columbia have no limits on abortion procedures, but Davis’ comment sparked immediate backlash from Trump supporters, further fueling claims of biased moderation.
As the debate progressed, Republican frustration grew. A Trump campaign spokesperson sent a message to a Post reporter, calling the debate dynamic “3 on 1,” pointing to the moderators’ handling of Trump’s statements while giving Harris a comparatively easier time.
Harris, for her part, delivered a performance that was far more confident than President Biden’s stumbling debate in June, which had stoked fears of a Trump landslide.
In her closing moments, Harris managed to avoid any significant gaffes, deflecting potential damage over her record on key issues, including her past stance on healthcare, immigration, and fracking.
However, the focus remained on Trump, whose contentious exchanges with the moderators dominated headlines.
Throughout the night, Trump sought to draw attention to Harris’ connections with ABC.
He pointed to her close friendship with Dana Walden, a senior Disney executive whose portfolio includes ABC News, raising questions about the impartiality of the network.
Republicans seized on these concerns, noting that the the moderators gave only cursory attention to Harris’ policy flip-flops.
These included her past promises to eliminate private health insurance, decriminalize illegal border crossings, and ban fracking, all stances that she distanced herself from during the debate.
The frustration among Republicans was palpable, as they viewed the debate as yet another example of mainstream media bias.
Despite the 45th president’s energetic defense of his record, he found himself repeatedly stifled by both Harris and the moderators.
As the debate concluded, Harris left the stage having avoided major pitfalls, while Trump’s supporters decried what they saw as an unfairly weighted contest with moderators siding with the VP.
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