ABC News' Linsey Davis clarifies reasons for fact-checking Trump during debate amid backlash over bias

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: ABC News moderator Linsey Davis noted efforts to "fact check" Donald Trump during his debate with Kamala Harris.

Republicans criticized ABC News moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis for not fact-checking Harris' claims on Trump's IVF stance.

Linsey Davis reveals deliberate post-debate fact-check decision 

In a recent interview, Linsey Davis explained that the choice to conduct post-debate fact checks was intentional, influenced by Trump and Joe Biden's performances in the June CNN debate.

"People were concerned that statements were allowed to just hang and not [be] disputed by the candidate Biden, at the time, or the moderators," Davis said, as per Daily Mail.

Davis had even anticipated Trump's comments on abortion and IVF, emphasizing the importance of officially recording such statements.

She then admitted their failed efforts to hold the candidates accountable whenever they were caught lying.

The anchor, hosting a show on ABC News' streaming platform, recognized that social media has increased her awareness of the challenges she faces as a Black woman reporting on the first Black female major presidential candidate while striving to remain impartial.

"There is a stereotype that I am acutely aware of that I can't be unbiased covering this moment," she told the LA Times. "And the anonymous Instagram people serve as reminders every day."

Muir and Davis consistently worked to fact-check Trump during the debate on issues such as the Capitol riot and a claim about migrant crime. However, Harris incorrectly asserted that Trump opposed in vitro fertilization.

Republicans slam ABC for failing to fact-check Kamala Harris

The former president Trump has clarified that he has publicly supported IVF, particularly in cases where it has faced state-level bans.

Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer made a post on social media, "ABC is making a huge mistake trying to fact check this live. They're only proving how biased they are. Harris fabricated an attack on Trump over IVF. ABC sat there and said nothing."

A Trump campaign account highlighted what the debate moderators did not: Harris was allegedly not truthful.

"Kamala is LYING again. President Trump has said he wants to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, including supporting IVF in every state," they wrote.

Davis refuted Trump's claim that states allow post-birth executions, calling it false. Muir reported that Trump inaccurately stated immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were consuming pets.

Harris was not fact-checked during the debate. Trump's shift to a more progressive stance on IVF frustrated social conservatives, as he announced plans to make the expensive procedure free for Americans.

Additionally, the former president has reportedly distanced himself from the controversy by instructing his party to moderate abortion rhetoric at the Republican National Convention.

Internet slams ABC News

As soon as the news appeared on the Daily Mail platform, readers began to criticize ABC News for not fact-checking Harris. A reader said, "This should be the last network presidential debate the Republicans participate in. It wasn’t fair and it will never be fair again. The mainstream media is in the tank for the Democratic Party, they’re not even trying to hide it anymore."

Another added, "I used to like David Muir, and he and ABC are a disgrace."

A third commented, "When did a statement that is not 100% accurate become a lie? A lie means intentionally inaccurate. ABC cannot hide their manipulation."

"The only stereotype is another progressively left news person on a major network putting a political slant into what should be a completely neutral debate," one stated.

A person added, "I will do my own fact checking, thank you very much! I don’t need a liberal puppet doing it.."

Another user said, "Biased against Trump."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.