Viewers and political commentators have criticized [1] ABC News moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir for what many perceived [2] as clear bias [3] against former President Donald Trump during Tuesday night’s debate against Kamala Harris.
The 90-minute debate, which was the first and only scheduled between the two candidates, drew sharp reactions online, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where many accused the moderators of disproportionately fact-checking and interrupting Trump while giving Harris a pass.
Throughout the debate, viewers noticed a disparity in how follow-up questions were handled.
Conservative media figures, including Media Research Center founder Brent Bozell, were quick to point out the imbalance. Bozell posted, “So now it’s Harris, Linsey, and Muir v. Trump – just as we said it would be.”
No David Muir is debating Trump. So now it’s Harris, Linsey and Muir v. Trump – just as we said it would be.
— Brent Bozell (@BrentBozell) September 11, 2024 [4]
One of the more notable fact-checks came during a discussion on abortion. Trump referenced a 2019 video of former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, which was widely criticized at the time.
VA Gov Northam is no moderate, this is one of the most vile, radical pro-abortion positions ever put forward. This is evil. He should recant or resign. https://t.co/Npxa4c5JdI [5]
— Jim DeMint (@JimDeMint) January 30, 2019 [6]
Trump’s point highlighted the Democratic Party’s extreme positions on late-term abortion, claiming that some Democrats support abortion even after birth.
Moderator Linsey Davis interrupted Trump, declaring, “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.”
Pressed on his shifting position on abortion, former Pres. Trump falsely claims some states allow for the killing of an infant after birth.@LinseyDavis [7]: “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.” https://t.co/1UPpKsC2er [8] pic.twitter.com/gjEhQiKFau [9]
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) September 11, 2024 [10]
This fact-check drew significant backlash from conservative commentators, who argued that Trump’s point had merit.
ABC is lying again. Eight states don’t have any restrictions on abortion.https://t.co/0jM2ED0LTb [11]
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 11, 2024 [12]
The Washington Examiner noted [13] that states like Minnesota do not require life-saving care for babies born after botched abortions, lending credibility to Trump’s statement.
Another contentious moment came when Trump brought up allegations that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating pets—claims that have circulated in some communities.
🚨 Why is Kamala LAUGHING when Trump mentions illegals eating people’s pets in Springfield?
You think this is FUNNY, Kamala? pic.twitter.com/HX4Uh3aIvE [14]
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 11, 2024 [15]
Moderator David Muir immediately pushed back, stating that the city manager had denied any credible reports of such incidents.
Trump responded by questioning the reliability of the source, claiming that local authorities might be covering up the situation.
The moderator is now entering the debate and “fact-checking” Donald Trump in real-time.
DONALD TRUMP: “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”
DAVID MUIR:… pic.twitter.com/SlPcEef7yb [16]
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) September 11, 2024 [17]
— Tristan Justice (@JusticeTristan) September 11, 2024 [19]
Despite the moderators’ repeated fact-checks of Trump, they were noticeably silent when Harris made several questionable claims.
Harris falsely accused Trump of referring to white supremacists in Charlottesville as “fine people” in 2017—a statement that has long been debunked, as Trump specifically condemned white supremacists in his remarks. However, neither Davis nor Muir stepped in to correct Harris.
She completely lied about Charlottesville and the ABC moderators did absolutely nothingpic.twitter.com/owPOsrMmhU [20]
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 11, 2024 [21]
Additionally, Harris’s assertion that Trump would sign a national abortion ban, despite his stated position of leaving the issue to the states, went unchecked by the moderators.
WATCH: @TulsiGabbard [22] fact checks Kamala Harris’ pathetic lies.
She tried to say he supports a federal abortion ban — he does not.
She tried to tell the American people that he wants to ban IVF — he does not.
She tried to say he wants to ban birth control — he does not. pic.twitter.com/D9ozAfqXMW [23]
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 11, 2024 [24]
The lack of balance in the fact-checking led many conservative commentators to accuse the moderators of favoring Harris.
Fox News contributor Joe Concha tweeted, “ABC News moderators not pressing back on Kamala’s mistruths whatsoever. What a joke.” Similarly, Megyn Kelly called the debate “a disgraceful failure” and slammed the moderators as “biased” and “unfair.”
ABC News moderators not pressing back on Kamala’s mistruths whatsoever. What a joke.
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) September 11, 2024 [25]
These moderators are a disgraceful failure and this is one of the most biased, unfair debates I have ever seen. Shame on you @ABC [26]
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) September 11, 2024 [27]
The disparity in questioning extended beyond fact-checks. Trump faced repeated challenges on topics such as his handling of January 6, 2021, and his comments on race, while Harris largely avoided any tough questioning on the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of crime, inflation, or the border crisis—issues central to the 2024 election.
An excellent compilation of the ABC debate moderators’ complete dereliction of duty from @tracegallagher [28] pic.twitter.com/f5oPhJttEh [29]
— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) September 11, 2024 [30]
This is a biased debate. Moderators not factcking Harris from the start – inheriting a bad economy, false claims on Project 2025, didn’t fact check Kamala Harris on IVF, abortion, on the border claims, on Charlottesville and much more. #Debate2024 [31] #debate [32]
— Elizabeth MacDonald (@LizMacDonaldFOX) September 11, 2024 [33]
Critics noted that Harris is in a difficult position, as she cannot easily campaign on fixing these problems without acknowledging the failures of the administration in which she serves.
By the end of the debate, conservative commentators and viewers alike were calling the event a “three-on-one partisan hit job,” with many arguing that the moderators seemed to be working alongside Harris rather than maintaining impartiality.
ABC is making a huge mistake trying to fact check this live.
They’re only proving how biased they are.
Harris fabricated an attack on Trump over IVF. ABC sat there and said nothing.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2024 [34]
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 [35]
These moderators are the most lying f*cks I’ve ever seen.
I am f*cking pissed at how biased this entire thing is.
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) September 11, 2024 [36]
These “moderators” are complete hacks. It’s three on one, and Trump is still winning!
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) September 11, 2024 [37]
The bias allegations fueled further distrust among Trump supporters toward mainstream media outlets, with Trump Jr. tweeting, “The Fake News is the enemy of the people!”
Weird how the hack moderators at @abcnews [38] are only “Fact checking” Trump and allowing Kamala to lie nonstop. The Fake News is the enemy of the people! #ABCDebate [39]
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 11, 2024 [40]
As the 2024 election race continues to intensify, the fallout from this debate highlights the ongoing tension between Trump’s campaign and the media.
Many now speculate whether Trump will agree to future debates without assurances of a more balanced and fair moderation.