During Tuesday night’s debate, President Donald Trump faced repeated interruptions from ABC moderators Lindsey Davis and David Muir, who frequently interrupted him to issue “fact checks.” In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris was allowed to make several questionable claims without facing similar scrutiny from the moderators. This disparity in treatment sparked criticism from viewers who noted the unequal handling of the two candidates.
One key moment came when the moderators challenged Trump’s comments on abortion, falsely claiming that there are no states where late-term abortions are legal. In reality, several states, including Oregon and Colorado, allow abortions with no limits on gestational age. While Trump’s remarks were subjected to intense fact-checking, Harris’ multiple falsehoods about Trump’s positions were left unaddressed.
Throughout the debate, Harris mischaracterized Trump’s stance on abortion, inaccurately stating that he would seek to implement a nationwide ban and would oppose in vitro fertilization (IVF). Trump has consistently said that he does not support a federal abortion ban and has expressed support for IVF, including advocating for insurance coverage of fertility treatments.
Harris also revisited Trump’s comments from the 2017 Charlottesville protests, falsely claiming that Trump referred to white supremacists and neo-Nazis as “very fine people.” This claim has been repeatedly debunked, including by fact-checking sources like Snopes, which clarified that Trump condemned the extremists involved. Despite this, Harris’ statement was not challenged by the moderators.
Further, Harris attempted to link Trump to the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a set of policy proposals that Trump has publicly stated he does not endorse or even fully know. The moderators chose not to question her on this false claim, allowing it to go unchecked.
The debate ended with Trump questioning Harris on why she has not implemented the policies she claims would improve the economy and immigration during her three-and-a-half years in office. Harris did not provide a direct answer, leaving her track record on these key issues largely unexamined by the moderators. Many viewers were left questioning the moderators’ impartiality and the fairness of the debate.
