ABC Moderators Fired: Fact-Checking the Rumors

Debate moderator controversy

• No ABC moderators fired: Despite criticism, ABC News has not fired, dismissed, or terminated debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis as of September 19, 2024

• Accusations of bias: Trump and supporters claimed the debate was "three-on-one" against him, with ABC News anchors allegedly favoring Vice President Kamala Harris

• Fact-checking during debate: ABC moderators fact-checked Trump several times on false claims about crime rates, election fraud, and other topics, while Harris reportedly went unchallenged

• High viewership: The debate attracted 67.1 million viewers, making it a highly watched event

Republican response

• Senator Marshall's letter: Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) demanded ABC News turn over any communications with the Harris campaign to investigate potential coordination, but did not call for moderators to be fired

• Allegations of partisanship: Some Republicans accused ABC News of being "blatantly partisan" in favor of Harris, leading to calls for moderators to be dismissed

• Conservative commentator reactions: Figures like Megyn Kelly called it "one of the most biased, unfair debates" they had seen, fueling speculation about ABC News anchors being terminated

Democratic response

• Sen. Coons' rebuttal: Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) dismissed complaints, suggesting they indicate Harris had a "domineering, dominant and successful champion performance" rather than ABC moderator bias

Debate moderation context

• Moderator selection criteria: The Commission on Presidential Debates typically selects moderators based on neutrality, credibility, and ability to facilitate without taking sides, not considering whether ABC moderators should be fired

• Diversity concerns: Prior to the debate, there were calls for more diverse moderator representation, unrelated to the current controversy about ABC debate moderators being dismissed

FAQ

Were ABC moderators fired after the presidential debate?

No, ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis were not fired after the September 10, 2024 presidential debate. Despite criticism and rumors, ABC News has not taken any action to dismiss or terminate these debate moderators as of September 19, 2024.

Why were there rumors about ABC debate moderators being dismissed?

Rumors about ABC debate moderators being dismissed arose due to accusations of bias against Trump during the debate. Some Republicans and conservative commentators claimed the moderators favored Vice President Kamala Harris and fact-checked Trump more aggressively, leading to calls for their termination.

Have any ABC News anchors been terminated due to the debate controversy?

No, ABC News has not terminated any anchors due to the debate controversy. As of September 19, 2024, there have been no reports of ABC News anchors being fired or dismissed in connection with the presidential debate moderation.

What actions have been taken against ABC moderators following the debate?

No actions have been taken against ABC moderators following the debate. Despite criticism and calls for their dismissal from some Republican supporters, ABC News has not fired, dismissed, or terminated David Muir and Linsey Davis.

Are there any ongoing investigations into ABC debate moderators' conduct?

While there are no formal investigations into ABC debate moderators' conduct, Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) has demanded that ABC News turn over any communications with the Harris campaign to investigate potential coordination. However, this demand does not directly relate to firing or dismissing the moderators.