The much anticipated ABC News Presidential Debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris took place Tuesday evening. Dozens share their observations on the event, with ABC News moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis failing to draw rave reviews for their performances.
Before the debate began, some news media members showcased behind-the-scenes photos of their preparations, including anchors at CNN.
Thanks to @ByGeorgePA for the pre-debate cheesesteak w provolone, onions, and peppers 🌶️ (photo by @kaitlancollins) pic.twitter.com/3fiuesx9lQ
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) September 10, 2024
Debate time in Philadelphia. @jaketapper @abbydphillip pic.twitter.com/8XQfQKLto4
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) September 11, 2024
The debate began with Vice President Kamala Harris making a concerted effort to cross the stage to shake the hand of former President Donald Trump. Some were impressed by the gesture while others argued it was a tacky move.
Aggressive pursuit of handshake=good
— Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) September 11, 2024
Trump refusing to shake her hand till Harris went over and literally stuck it in his chest was something.
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) September 11, 2024
I’m glad Kamala Harris introduced herself to Donald Trump. I mean, how else would he know who she is?
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) September 11, 2024
Oof. How do you make walking onto the stage that awkward??
As the event continued, opinions began to fly about the performance of ABC News moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis. Conservative media pundits were quick to pounce on the fact-checks levied against the Republican Trump, while noting that Harris rarely received similar treatment.
Harris didn’t answer the question are Americans better off now than they were four years ago? We all know the answer, too bad @ABC will not follow up.
— kevin miller (@kevinmillershow) September 11, 2024
Linsey Davis completely interjects herself into the debate to help Kamala. No surprise at all there. But I thought Trump nailed his abortion answer. This is Kamala’s only issue.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 11, 2024
It only took 22 minutes for @abc moderator @LinseyDavis to reprise the role of Candy Crowley and insert herself in the debate
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) September 11, 2024
ABC is doing a pretty aggressive job following up when Trump avoids a direct answer. We have not seen that when Harris has done the same (repeatedly).
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) September 11, 2024
ABC is making a huge mistake trying to fact check this live.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2024
They’re only proving how biased they are.
Harris fabricated an attack on Trump over IVF. ABC sat there and said nothing.
Debate “moderator” Linsey Davis just lied when she interrupted to claim that no state permits the killing of babies after birth. In fact, Kamala’s own running mate repealed the legal requirement that physicians attempt to "preserve the life and health of the born alive infant.”
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) September 11, 2024
Linsey Davis will incorrectly "fact check" Donald Trump, after her monologue of a question on abortion. Will she or David Muir fact check the lies from Kamala Harris?
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) September 11, 2024
On the other side of the political aisle, however, the responses by Muir and Davis to falsehoods made by Trump were welcomed.
Fact checking—yes!
— Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) September 11, 2024
Shout out to the @ABC moderators for fact-checking in real time. This is how you do it.
— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) September 11, 2024
If you're complaining about the moderators, you lost the debate. There's no crying in politics.
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) September 11, 2024
ABC moderators doing an *excellent* job.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) September 11, 2024
The ABC duo is factchecking, pretty much just Trump so far, but it's focused, crisp and brief, so it doesn't feel as though it's interfering.
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) September 11, 2024
Translation: Our guy isn’t doing well. #debate https://t.co/w7oJWZ5M1T
— Katie Couric (@katiecouric) September 11, 2024
I'd like to apologize for doubting @DavidMuir and in fact I'm going to say his media program at Ithaca College is better than mine at Cornell*
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) September 11, 2024
* I may revise these remarks later
However, as the event continued, many conservative media members shared their anger at the performance of the ABC News moderators. Reactions ranged from surprised, to shocked, to outraged at what transpired Tuesday evening.
So it's Trump vs. Harris and the moderators. Shocker.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 11, 2024
These moderators are trash, total partisans
— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) September 11, 2024
CNN back in June deserved the credit they got for running a fair debate
But ABC News is Democrat operative garbage tonight
This debate is pointless. It's the worst debate I've ever watched in my career where I've had to watch or attend debates. The moderation is THAT bad.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) September 11, 2024
ABC’s moderators are in the tank for Kamala. This is stunning even for rigged news. Not sure we have ever seen anything like this.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 11, 2024
The absolute gall of ABC to keep “fact checking” ONLY Trump while letting her lie in every answer is infuriating.
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) September 11, 2024
The behavior of @DavidMuir and the other gal is appalling and an embarrassment to the broadcasting profession.
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) September 11, 2024
Went through the debate transcript and counted:
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) September 11, 2024
Trump was fact-checked 4 times
Harris was fact-checked 0 times
Muir/Davis pressed Trump 6 times for follow-ups
Muir/Davis pressed Harris 0 times for follow-ups
Trump made ≈14 false statements
Harris made ≈16 false statements https://t.co/CDdv7xxigp
It is laughable how ABC choreographed this to help VP Harris but it isn’t working because it is so obvious.
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) September 11, 2024
Are we only going to fact-check Trump? And ask questions from the lefts perspective?#Debate2024 #Debatenight
— CHAD BENSON (@chadbensonshow) September 11, 2024
ABC has not fact checked Kamala a single time even though she is spewing some serious BS.
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellUSA) September 11, 2024
Moderators are actively fact checking Trump. Kamala is flagrantly lying about Trump and hasn’t been fact checked once.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) September 11, 2024
ABC isn’t even trying to be impartial. THEY are debating Trump.
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) September 11, 2024
The abc moderators are debating Trump. They came ready to make him look like a liar to support Kamala.
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) September 11, 2024
Very obvious but Trump should have expected this.
Holy sh*t these [jerks] from ABC News won’t challenge anything Harris says that isn’t true. I knew these people wouldn’t do a fair and honest debate.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) September 11, 2024
Trump is on defense. We all knew how this would play out with the ABC moderators, who are absolute hacks.
— Pete Mundo (@PeteMundo) September 11, 2024
He’s falling for their trap, though. It’s very sad to see, because we saw it coming.
Everything should tie back to Biden-Kamala policy.
Trump is debating three people right now. Moderators are team Kamala.
— Rich Zeoli 🇺🇸 (@Richzeoli) September 11, 2024
If you ever think you’re having a bad day, read the comments at @davidmuir You don’t want to be that guy tonight. It appears people definitely noticed his appalling bias…
— Mike Gallagher Show (@GallagherShow) September 11, 2024
Pretty wild performance from ABC here.
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) September 11, 2024
Trump also doing himself few favors.
ABC is awful. Absolutely awful.
— Tony Katz (@tonykatz) September 11, 2024
#Debatenight
my debate score:
— GregGutfeld (@greggutfeld) September 11, 2024
trump – 3
moderators – 9
harris – N/A
THIS IS REMARKABLE. #trump/kamaladebate. #debate SO MUCH to talk about tomorrow on Radio/podcast. I don’t think that any minds have been changed if you are solid for trump or Kamala. ABC is shameful. THEY ARE KAMALA surrogates. If you are low information – coin toss.…
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) September 11, 2024
ABC moderators were horrendous. Harris lied so often I lost count. Harris was never pressed by the moderators. She spewed generalities. Memorized lines. Lots of cheap shots. She was also boring and predictable.
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) September 11, 2024
ABC's moderators are a disgrace to their profession.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 11, 2024
David Muir is debating Donald Trump more than Kamala Harris. He's now just campaigning for Kamala Harris. And his latest softball question to Harris? Is Trump trying to suppress the vote? You can't make this up.
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) September 11, 2024
I really did not believe that ABC would do this but they decided to throw in with Harris, 100%. Just amazing.
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) September 11, 2024
These moderators are a disgraceful failure and this is one of the most biased, unfair debates I have ever seen. Shame on you @ABC
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) September 11, 2024
This is an ABC News Ambush of Trump
— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) September 11, 2024
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
Donald Trump is debating Kamala Harris, David Muir, and Linsey Davis.
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) September 11, 2024
The ABC News moderators flat out refuse to correct anything Kamala Harris says. They will then offer misleading fact checks against Trump. This is a disgrace and kudos to Trump for keeping his cool so far.
