“Trump Slams ABC News for Breaking Debate Deal, Accuses Network of Favoring Kamala Harris”
In a fiery speech at Trump Tower Thursday night, former President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on ABC News and anchor David Muir for violating agreements made with his campaign during the September 10th debate against Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump accused the network of teaming up with Harris to create an unfair, three-on-one debate scenario, where he felt bombarded by biased moderation.
Trump’s critique zeroed in on how Muir and co-moderator Linsey Davis repeatedly fact-checked him without holding Harris accountable for her statements. Speaking on Fox News afterward, Trump called out Muir specifically for contradicting his assertion that crime in the U.S. has increased, even though statistics from organizations like the National Crime Victimization Survey show a clear rise in urban crime rates.
Trump’s Clash with Muir: Fact-Check Fiasco
During the debate, Trump stated that crime had risen significantly across the country. However, Muir quickly interrupted, repeating a controversial talking point that crime was actually on the decline. “David Muir, a real lightweight,” Trump said, expressing frustration. “He corrected me and kept doing it, even though what I said was right. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris got away with saying things that were absolutely wrong, especially about Charlottesville. No correction for her, only me.”
While mainstream outlets like ABC have claimed crime is down, the National Crime Victimization Survey, conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, paints a different picture. The survey asked 230,000 Americans whether they had been victims of violent crime, and the data shows a 19% increase in urban crime rates in 2023 compared to 2019, excluding simple assault.
“A Deal Was Broken”: Trump Calls Out ABC for Debate Agreement Violations
Trump also revealed that his campaign had an agreement with ABC News to ensure a free-flowing debate without moderator corrections or interjections, which he claims was violated. “We had a deal with ABC that there would be no corrections of any kind, and they broke it,” Trump said. “Why? Because they’re bad people, and they’re fake news.”
According to Trump, Muir’s repeated fact-checks weren’t just bias—they broke a specific agreement made with the network. “They violated the deal multiple times during the debate, and a lot of people standing over there [gesturing to his staff] will tell you exactly what the deal was.”
Trump Takes Aim at Linsey Davis: “I Don’t Know How She Got Her Job”
Trump didn’t hold back when talking about Linsey Davis, either. “I never heard of her. I never want to hear of her. She was terrible. I don’t know how she got her job in the first place,” he remarked, doubling down on his critique of the debate’s moderation. Davis, like Muir, repeatedly interrupted Trump without once challenging Harris on her statements.
Fox News tracked that Muir and Davis fact-checked Trump five times throughout the debate but never once corrected Harris. Trump expressed regret for not confronting the moderators more aggressively during the debate, saying, “My only regret is that I wanted to be elegant, and I didn’t want to go after the anchors. I wish I did, in a way.”
A Fight for Credibility in the Media
Trump’s speech was a direct assault on ABC News’s credibility. He accused the network of biased coverage and even took a lighthearted swipe at Muir, saying, “His hair was better five years ago. That happens with the clock.”
The former president concluded his speech by stressing that America can’t afford biased media as the country faces significant challenges. “We have a country to save, and we can’t have fake news like that,” Trump said. He believes that networks like ABC, and moderators like Muir and Davis, are playing politics rather than serving the public interest by holding both candidates equally accountable.
As Trump eyes a potential run in 2024, the tension between him and the media is likely to escalate. His supporters view this clash as another example of how mainstream media outlets have treated him unfairly throughout his political career.