The fiery September 10 debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump has left more than just political sparks flying—it’s ignited a fierce controversy over the role of ABC News moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis. While much of the media declared Harris the winner, the conduct of the moderators has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., co-founder and co-chair of the Commission on Presidential Debates.
Fahrenkopf, a veteran of overseeing presidential debates since 1988, was appalled by what he saw as clear bias. “What really shocked me last night was the way the moderators handled it,” Fahrenkopf said. “They’re supposed to be facilitators, not participants.” His comments highlight a growing sentiment that Muir and Davis overstepped their role by frequently interjecting to fact-check Trump, while giving Harris an easier path to respond without the same level of scrutiny.
Fahrenkopf pointed out that a moderator’s job is to guide the debate—not to debate the candidates themselves. “A debate is between the candidates, not a debate between the candidate and the moderators,” he stressed, calling it one of the worst moderator performances he’s ever seen. His concerns echo what many Trump supporters have argued for years: that media bias tips the scales against their candidate.
Trump, never one to mince words, blasted the debate as a “rigged deal” and claimed victory despite the perceived 3-to-1 odds against him. He took to Truth Social to vent his frustration, declaring that there would be *”NO THIRD DEBATE!”* and mocking Harris for avoiding past debate invitations. He also criticized Harris’ debate performance, accusing her of dodging tough questions and receiving preferential treatment.
This isn’t the first time Trump has called out the debate process. Throughout his political career, he has consistently slammed the media for bias, and this latest incident only reinforces his belief that the system is rigged against him. His statement made it clear that he sees no reason to participate in future debates with Harris, writing, *”When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, ‘I WANT A REMATCH.’ Polls clearly show that I won the Debate against Comrade Kamala Harris, the Democrats’ Radical Left Candidate.”*
Harris’ team, on the other hand, had requested an additional debate after the ABC-hosted event, but with Trump firmly closing the door, it looks like the debate stage won’t see these two face off again. The debate may be over, but the fallout is only just beginning.
Leave a Comment