Donald Trump, known for his frequent use of the term “rigged” to describe situations he disagrees with, has added another event to his list: his recent September 10 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump’s use of the term “rigged” has been applied to various aspects of American society, including elections, the legal system, and even events like the Emmys, allegedly manipulated by unidentified nefarious forces.
Trump’s criticism of the debate was anticipated given his history, and he referred to the event as “rigged” both before and after it occurred. His dissatisfaction was primarily directed at the moderators from ABC News, Linsey Davis and David Muir, who corrected several of his false statements during the debate. This act of fact-checking caused friction among Republicans who were of the opinion that Trump should have the liberty to make false claims without interference, irrespective of the potential impact on the audience.
After the debate, Trump aired his grievances against ABC News in an interview on “Fox & Friends.” He accused the network of biased moderation, alleging that the debate was skewed in favor of Harris. He went as far as suggesting that ABC News should be stripped of its broadcasting license.
Trump’s main issue was with the ABC News moderators who, according to him, unfairly corrected his statements while not holding Harris to the same standard. When questioned about why he believed the moderators had not fact-checked Harris as thoroughly, Trump responded, “They’re dishonest.” He also described the debate as a “three-to-one” situation, insinuating that both moderators sided with Harris.
“I think ABC took a big hit last night,” Trump said, suggesting that the network should lose its license over its handling of the debate. However, he also stated his anticipation of such treatment, saying, “Now, I didn’t mind because frankly, I was pretty sure that’s what they would do.”
Contrastingly, Trump had words of praise for his earlier debate with President Joe Biden on CNN, which he described as a “much more honorably run debate.” This was due to the fact that the CNN moderators did not fact-check or question the candidates, a decision agreed upon by both campaigns.
Trump also contested Harris’ claims during the debate, particularly her interpretation of his comments regarding the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Harris had referred to Trump’s controversial “very fine people on both sides” remark, which he insisted was misrepresented. Trump asserted that he had unequivocally condemned neo-Nazis and white nationalists during the same press conference. “Everybody knew that, frankly,” Trump said, adding, “I think they lost a lot of credibility.”
Trump also refuted Harris’ statement that he planned to implement Project 2025 and sign a national abortion ban if reelected, labeling them as “lies.” He went on to express confidence in his debate performance, stating, “I’ve been told I’m a good debater… Maybe my best debate.”
Despite his criticisms, Trump appeared positive about the debate’s outcome. He noted that his supporters believed he performed well, even though polls suggested Harris may have had an advantage. A CNN poll found that 63% of viewers thought Harris performed better than Trump.
Trump’s call for ABC News to lose its broadcasting license is the latest in his ongoing feud with mainstream media. Over his presidency and beyond, Trump has frequently accused major news outlets, including NBC, CBS, and CNN, of dishonesty and bias. However, legal experts highlight the improbability of a broadcasting license being revoked over perceived bias, citing stringent standards set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to safeguard free speech and press freedom.
In the aftermath of the debate, Harris’ campaign requested a second debate. While Harris is eager for another round, Trump has declined the offer, stating that one debate is enough. It remains to be seen if public pressure will lead to another debate, despite Trump’s belief that the moderators were biased against him.
