During the presidential debate hosted by ABC News, moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis fact-checked Donald Trump in real-time, correcting his falsehoods on abortion, migrants, and the 2020 election. This marked a departure from previous debates, such as CNN’s debate in June where false claims made by Trump and President Joe Biden were not corrected during the telecast. The decision to live fact-check Trump during the debate was welcomed by viewers at home who were able to receive accurate information as the candidates spoke.
ABC News initially did not commit to live fact-checking before the debate. However, both moderators stepped in to correct false claims made by Trump on multiple occasions throughout the event. Linsey Davis corrected Trump’s claim about Democrats advocating for abortion in the ninth month of pregnancy or executing babies after birth, stating that there is no state in which it is legal to kill a baby after it is born. Later, David Muir corrected Trump’s claim about migrants in Ohio killing and eating pets, debunking the false narrative that had been circulating in the media.
The moderators took subtle approaches to establish the truth during the debate. When Trump denied acknowledging his loss in the 2020 election, Muir pressed him on his previous statement. Following the debate, CNN’s Daniel Dale reported that Trump had made at least 33 false claims compared to one from Harris. This sparked discussion about the role of moderators in fact-checking during debates and the challenges they face in balancing intervention and facilitating a productive discussion between candidates.
In past debates, moderators have struggled to find the right balance between fact-checking and facilitating the debate. CNN’s Candy Crowley faced backlash for fact-checking Mitt Romney during a debate in 2012, while moderators in 2020 mostly stayed out of fact-checking. ABC’s decision to live fact-check Trump during the debate drew criticism from his allies and right-wing media, who claimed that the moderators were ignoring Harris’ inaccuracies. However, the fact-checking provided by ABC served to inform viewers and ensure that accurate information was presented during the high-stakes event.
Overall, the live fact-checking by ABC News moderators during the presidential debate was a departure from previous debates and aimed to provide viewers with accurate information in real-time. The correction of Trump’s false claims on abortion, migrants, and the 2020 election helped to clarify issues and counter misinformation presented by the candidates. The role of moderators in fact-checking during debates continues to be a point of discussion and controversy, as they navigate the balance between facilitating a productive discussion and ensuring that false claims are corrected for the benefit of the audience.
