Moderators at Tuesday’s presidential debate have been accused of being biased and only fact-checking Donald Trump while leaving Kamala Harris’ claims unchecked.
Right-wing pundits and social media users say ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis repeatedly fact-checked the former president and let Harris off the hook on a number of issues, including her positions on fracking, the economy and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Trump was fact-checked on a number of issues, including abortion, Obamacare, the January 6 riots and the baseless claim that immigrants have been eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.
Trump, shortly after leaving the stage in Philadelphia, sent a message on his social networks: “I think it was my best debate, EVER, especially because it was THREE AGAINST ONE!”
The former president also called into Fox & Friends on Wednesday and criticized ABC for fact-checking his claims in real time while failing to do the same for Vice President Harris.
Moderators at Tuesday’s presidential debate have been accused of being biased and only fact-checking Donald Trump while letting Kamala Harris’ claims pass unchecked.
Right-wing pundits and social media users say ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis repeatedly fact-checked the former president while letting Harris off the hook.
“It was 3 to 1, it was a fixed deal like I assumed it would be because when you look at the fact, they were correcting everything and not correcting her,” Trump said.
Journalist Abigail Shrier said: “The moderators did not fact-check Kamala Harris on Project 2025. The moderators did not fact-check Kamala Harris on IVF. They simply fact-checked Trump for the fourth time.”
A Trump campaign account said Harris was not telling the truth, as Trump has taken a more progressive stance on IVF, or in vitro fertilization. He said he would make the expensive procedure free for Americans.
“Kamala is LYING again. President Trump has said he wants to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have children, including supporting IVF in every state,” they wrote.
Linsey Davis claimed Trump was lying when he said states are allowing executions after birth.
Muir said Trump falsely claimed that immigrants were eating pets in the city of Springfield, Ohio.
Harris was not fact-checked by either during the debate.
Donald Trump Jr also accused ABC of selective fact-checking, writing on X: “The moderators failed to fact-check Kamala when she invoked the Charlottesville lie.”
Harris repeated the debunked rumor that Trump said there were “good people on both sides” of a Nazi rally in Charlottesville.
Trump Jr added: ‘The moderators failed to fact-check Kamala when she lied about changing her position on fracking.
‘The moderators failed to fact-check Kamala when she repeatedly lied about President Trump’s positions.’
Former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, who supported Trump, said on ABC after the debate that moderators failed to fact-check Harris on several claims, including when she said Trump wants a federal abortion ban and a ban on birth control.
Megyn Kelly shared several posts accusing the moderators of being obviously anti-Trump and saying ABC should be ashamed.
A CNN snap poll taken shortly after the debate gave Harris the win 63 to 37 when viewers who watched were asked who won.
The podcaster wrote: “These moderators are a disgraceful failure and this is one of the most biased and unfair debates I have ever seen. Shame on you ABC!”
Kelly added: “The offensive against Trump is so bad and so obvious that it will backfire.”
She continued: ‘OMG MORE FACT CHECK FROM ABC. THIS IS THE WORST ANCHOR FIGHT I HAVE EVER SEEN. 3 on 1.’
Opinions on how ABC handled Tuesday’s final debate were largely a Rorschach test of how supporters on both sides felt about how the matter played out.
MSNBC commentator Chris Hayes posted a message on X saying that ABC moderators were doing an “excellent” job, only to be responded to by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who said, “that’s how you know they’re complete shit.”
Following the debate, Harris said she would like to debate the former president again before the November election.
Journalist Abigail Shrier said: “The moderators did not fact-check Kamala Harris on Project 2025. The moderators did not fact-check Kamala Harris on IVF. They simply fact-checked Trump for the fourth time.”
Trump was noncommittal after taking to the “press room” minutes after the contest, saying he would have to think about it.
A CNN snap poll taken shortly after the debate showed Harris leading Trump 63 to 37 when viewers watching were asked who won.
Trump admitted that “if it was a fair network” he would do it. He complained that it was “three against one,” referring to the times an ABC moderator intervened to fact-check Trump’s comments.
Trump gave himself a good evaluation, calling it his “best debate yet,” though he complained about the moderators.
At the end of the interview, Hannity pressed him again on whether he would do another debate, and Trump remained unwilling. “The reason you do a second debate is if you lose, and they lost… But I’ll think about it,” he said.