Tim Walz Praises ABC ‘Moderators’ For Going After Trump

In a post-debate interview, Kamala Harris’s running mate, Tim Walz, commended ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis for their approach to former President Donald Trump during his debate with Vice President Harris. Walz remarked on MSNBC, “I appreciate the moderators calling him out on this, re-questioning him, making it clear that he’s not lost. But look, this guy is a threat. This is gonna be a close election. We know it comes down to the battleground states.”

Meanwhile, SiriusXM podcaster Megyn Kelly criticized the ABC moderators in a blog post, saying they "did exactly what their bosses wanted them to do." She noted that Dana Walden, the head of ABC News and a close friend of Kamala Harris, played a role in orchestrating the debate dynamic. According to Kelly, the moderators acted in favor of Harris, making it a three-on-one scenario against Trump.

Kelly wrote, “Trump did the best he could under the circumstances, but it really was like three fighters in the ring against one opponent.” She expressed frustration over how Trump had to defend himself against not just Harris but also the moderators. Kelly argued that the moderators fact-checked Trump on multiple occasions but failed to hold Harris to the same standard, accusing them of bias.

One notable moment for Kelly was when Trump tried to clarify his "by a whisker" remark about losing the 2020 election. Muir interrupted, saying he didn’t detect sarcasm in Trump’s tone, prompting Kelly to question Muir’s objectivity. She criticized Muir for stepping out of his role as a news anchor, stating, “It is not for you to make that call. Leave it up to Kamala Harris or the audience to decide.”

Kelly concluded that the debate was heavily skewed against Trump, asserting that the moderators asked loaded questions meant to undermine him while giving Harris the chance to criticize him without being similarly challenged. She predicted that this bias might backfire, arguing, “I actually think the American public is going to see through this, and there is probably going to be some empathy for Trump. No fair-minded person could think anything other than that. It was three against one on that stage tonight.”