ABC Debate Moderators Accused Of Bias Against Trump

Tuesday's ABC debate between Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris has come under scrutiny for alleged bias against the former president.

Moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir were at the center of the controversy, with critics accusing them of fact-checking Trump aggressively while allowing Harris to make unchecked claims, with one of the ABC personalities essentially now admitting as much, as the Daily Caller explains.

The moderators' approach to handling Trump’s statements was, according to Davis, a direct response to lessons learned from previous debates. She, in particular, asserted that during the June 2024 debate between Trump and Joe Biden on CNN, there had been concerns over unchecked statements. In that debate, Biden had struggled to push back against Trump’s claims, leading to a more assertive moderation strategy this time around.

Fact-Checking Trump Draws Attention

Davis’s real-time fact-checking of Trump during the Sept. 12 debate was highlighted by the L.A. Times, which praised her approach as cutting through misinformation. The newspaper argued that her fact-checks were an essential part of ensuring accuracy in a highly charged political environment. Davis herself stated that the moderators wanted to avoid a repeat of the June debate, where fact-checking had been less prominent.

David Muir, who led much of the debate, also played a key role in ensuring that Trump’s statements were heavily scrutinized. However, it was Davis’s handling of Trump’s comments on abortion that drew the most attention. Trump claimed that late-term abortions were a common practice in the U.S., a statement that Davis quickly disputed, stating that no state in the country allows the killing of a baby after birth.

Abortion Comments Spark Backlash

The handling of Trump’s comments on abortion led to a backlash from pro-life activists, who argued that Davis and Harris were downplaying the legality of late-term abortions. While Davis seemed to contend that late-term abortions do not happen, pro-life activists pointed out that such procedures are legal in nine states and Washington, D.C. They accused both ABC and Harris of spreading misinformation by denying this reality.

Kristan Hawkins, a prominent pro-life advocate, took to social media to call out what she saw as blatant falsehoods during the debate. Hawkins criticized both the moderators and Harris for perpetuating the claim that late-term abortions were not occurring in the U.S. Others, including conservative commentators, echoed her sentiments, accusing the moderators of failing to hold Harris accountable for her statements.

Potential Conflict of Interest Raised

Beyond the handling of abortion, questions about bias extended to potential conflicts of interest. Critics highlighted the close personal connection between Kamala Harris and Disney executive Dana Walden. Walden, whose company owns ABC, has been a long-time friend and donor to Harris’s political campaigns. This connection raised concerns about impartiality, as some believed it may have influenced the moderation of the debate.

Additionally, the fact that both Linsey Davis and Kamala Harris are members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority led some to question whether this shared affiliation affected Davis’s approach to moderating the debate. Though no direct evidence has surfaced to support this claim, the suggestion of bias persisted in the post-debate analysis.

Pro-Life Activists Call Out Moderation

The debate’s focus on abortion also sparked strong reactions from pro-life activists, many of whom felt that Trump’s statements were unfairly targeted. Liz Peek, a conservative columnist, tweeted in defense of Trump’s comments, pointing out that laws in states like Minnesota do not require medical interventions to save infants born during late-term abortions. Peek argued that Trump was correct to highlight this issue and that the moderators were wrong to dismiss it so quickly.

Other pro-life advocates, such as Kristan Hawkins, continued to call out what they viewed as misinformation spread by both ABC and Harris during the debate. Hawkins shared videos and articles debunking the claim that late-term abortions do not happen, insisting that the issue was more complex than the moderators had suggested.

Economic Plans Remain Unclear

Despite the focus on fact-checking and abortion, one area where Harris’s performance was criticized was her economic platform. Critics noted that while Trump’s economic policies were heavily scrutinized, Harris’s economic plans remained vague. Some felt that this lack of clarity allowed Trump to gain ground on economic issues in post-debate polling.

Polls taken after the debate showed that Trump had received a bump in support, particularly on economic issues, where he was seen as having a clearer strategy. Critics argued that by failing to press Harris on the details of her economic plans, the moderators may have inadvertently helped Trump in this area.

Conclusion of Controversy

As the dust settled following the Sept. 12 debate, it became clear that the moderation would remain a contentious issue in the ongoing presidential race. While ABC and the moderators defended their approach, many on the right felt that the deck had been stacked against Trump.

Ultimately, the debate highlighted the challenges of moderating a high-stakes political event in a polarized environment. Whether or not the moderators intended to show bias, their performance became a focal point of criticism, with accusations of unfairness dominating the post-debate discussion.