Former President Donald Trump has once again criticized ABC News and its veteran anchors, labeling the network as the “worst” and “most dishonest” on television. Trump made these comments during a town hall event hosted by Fox News host Sean Hannity, where he specifically called out George Stephanopoulos, accusing him of being a “nasty guy.” Trump has been vocal in his criticism of ABC ever since Vice President Kamala Harris secured the Democratic nomination, claiming that the network is biased against him and employs a panel of “Trump-haters.”
As the presidential debate hosted by ABC approached, Trump expressed his displeasure with the network and even hinted at the possibility of dropping out of the event in Philadelphia. He accused ABC of being “fake news” and attempting to give Harris an advantage over him. Trump and Harris had been at odds over the debate rules, with Harris’s team initially pushing for live microphones at all times. However, an agreement was reached similar to the rules of Trump’s previous debate against Joe Biden, including muted microphones when the opposing candidate is speaking and no live audience.
Trump has gone as far as to suggest, without evidence, that Harris may be given questions in advance of the debate, implying that she may have an unfair advantage. ABC has refuted these claims, stating that no topics or questions will be provided to either candidate beforehand. The network has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a fair debate for both parties, emphasizing that the rules were mutually agreed upon by both campaigns well in advance.
Despite Trump’s attempts to cast doubt on the fairness of the debate, ABC has maintained that the event will be conducted impartially. The network has announced that the moderators for the debate will be David Muir, anchor and managing editor of “World News Tonight,” and Linsey Davis, anchor of ABC News Live’s “Prime.” ABC has released a statement affirming that no additional agreements have been made beyond the mutually agreed-upon debate rules, and they are looking forward to moderating the presidential debate as scheduled.
In the lead-up to the debate, Trump has continued to lash out at ABC and its anchors, painting them as biased and unfair. Despite his efforts to undermine the credibility of the event, ABC has stood by its commitment to ensuring a balanced and impartial debate. The network has emphasized that both campaigns had equal input into the debate rules and that all parties are expected to adhere to the agreed-upon guidelines. As the debate date approaches, it remains to be seen how the event will unfold and whether Trump’s criticisms will impact the overall tone and conduct of the debate.
