ABC News sparked a backlash among critics for its aggressive response to former President Trump and soft response to Vice President Kamala Harris during Tuesday's presidential debate.
The Disney-owned network shocked the nation when debate modestors David Muir and Lindsey Davis repeatedly fact-checked Trump on topics ranging from crime and abortion to the former president's past comments about the 2020 election.
“The ABC hosts fact-checked and they were wrong! And in a shockingly obviously one-sided way, Trump survived the ambush and it's a victory,” conservative radio host Buck Sexton responded. “This debate was a total sham and every question was an attack on Trump, 3 to 1. It's outrageous.”
ABC's Lindsey Davis raises eyebrows with abortion fact-check on Trump: 'You're totally interjecting your opinion'
“So when Trump doesn't answer a question directly, ABC points that out. Kamala doesn't answer a single question directly and they let her off the hook,” Outkick host Tomi Lahren pointed out.
“These debate questions and moderation are breathtaking. Holy crap. I'm not exaggerating. This is unbelievable. Totally outrageous,” wrote Ruthless co-host Josh Holmes.
“The ABC News host is trying to make Candy Crowley look dumb,” said author Jerry Dunleavy, referring to the CNN debate host who infamously tried to fact-check Mitt Romney during the 2012 election.
“The questions are all badly constructed, every single one of them,” wrote Molly Hemingway, editor of The Federalist magazine.
Critics accused ABC debate hosts David Muir and Lindsay Davis of portraying both candidates as one-sided. (ABC News)
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump to face off in first presidential debate in battleground Pennsylvania
Some critics have specifically blamed Muir for his repeated altercations with Trump.
“David Muir has criticized and attacked Trump more than Kamala,” said journalist Glenn Greenwald, “and Kamala can rest easy knowing that an ABC 'host' is running the debate for her.”
“David Muir is running a strong campaign for president,” quipped author and activist Christopher Ruffo.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (R) and former U.S. President Donald Trump attend the second presidential debate at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, Tuesday, September 10, 2024. (Getty Images)
FOX News' Top Talent Reacts to ABC's Presidential Debate
Others targeted networks broadly.
“This is an absolute disaster for ABC's credibility,” said NewsBusters editor-in-chief Curtis Hack.
“I've been telling you for years how much ABC hates the Republican Party…” said Meghan McCain, former co-host of The View.
“Three against one … it's terrible,” Daily Caller correspondent Henry Rogers said.
“ABC/Disney did their best to help VP Harris. It's amazing how bad the hosting was,” wrote national radio host Hugh Hewitt. “Trump could have won the election and he didn't, but she was so bad that he still didn't win because the two hosts were obviously so biased. Neither of them won, but ABC/Disney lost half the country.”
Screenshot: Fox News simulcast of the ABC News presidential debate (Screenshot: Fox News simulcast of the ABC News presidential debate)
The ABC presenters received some praise from other liberal media outlets.
“The hosts at ABC are doing a great job,” MSNBC host Chris Hayes responded.
“I have to say, ABC's hosts went above and beyond. They checked the facts and confronted them. It shows just how bad CNN has been,” Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin wrote.
“Muir has a flair for confrontational rebuttals, like Bob Ross talking about adding a little magenta to a sunset,” New York Times reporter Glenn Thrash said.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (R) and former U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands during the second presidential debate at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, Tuesday, September 10, 2024. (Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Trump received a lot of criticism from Harris and the debate moderators for constantly “taking the bait.”
“Kamala has been on Trump's mind since the comments about the crowd size. Trump has taken the bait and is furious. It's as simple as that,” Pac News correspondent Tara Palmeri said.
“Harris keeps dangling bait at Trump and then spending the first 20 seconds responding to it,” Semaphore reporter David Weigel wrote.
“Donald Trump is taking the bait and doing what many commentators feared Vice President Harris would do,” MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend agreed.
“Trump is not doing what Harris is doing – dodging and redirecting from the worst parts of himself to the best parts of himself and trying to get in Kamala's way. Instead, Trump continues to litigate every bit of bait Kamala throws him while ignoring his best challenges,” Breaking Point co-host Sagar Enjeti posted.
“You can scream all you want about the debate moderators, and they are actively trying to help Harris, but Trump agreed to the debate, he took the bait, and ill-informed voters are watching. His lack of discipline is helping Harris,” concluded conservative radio host Erick Erickson.
Click here to get the FOX News app
