In what is being described as a historic low for the network, ABC’s moderator ratings have hit rock bottom following the backlash from the recent presidential debate. Viewers were not shy about their displeasure, taking to social media in droves to criticize ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis for what many felt was a biased, uneven performance. Now, as the dust settles, ABC finds itself in an awkward position—forced to admit they may have made a serious miscalculation.
“Look, we’ve been doing debates for a long time,” said an ABC spokesperson, speaking on behalf of the network. “But this time, we might have gotten it wrong. We made a mistake.” It’s rare to see a major network concede defeat in such a public way, but given the ratings nosedive, they had little choice. After all, viewers had tuned in expecting a fair and balanced discussion—what they got was something closer to a media-driven sideshow.
The debate in question featured a showdown between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. On paper, it was supposed to be one of the most pivotal political events of the year, with both candidates eager to sway undecided voters. However, the real drama of the evening unfolded not between the candidates but between the moderators and the audience.
Throughout the 90-minute spectacle, Muir and Davis repeatedly fact-checked Trump in real time, interrupting him on several occasions to clarify statements they deemed inaccurate. Harris, on the other hand, was given considerably more leeway, her responses often going unchallenged. Viewers immediately took notice, and by the time the closing statements were delivered, social media was ablaze with accusations of bias.
“Are Muir and Davis running for office too?” tweeted one frustrated viewer. “If so, they should put their names on the ballot because they sure seem to think they’re part of the debate.”
The fallout was swift. Twitter/X became a battleground, with hashtags like #RiggedDebate and #FireTheModerators trending for hours after the event. Even ABC’s own comment sections were flooded with angry posts, many accusing the network of turning what should have been a neutral platform into a partisan attack on Trump.
Perhaps the most immediate and painful consequence of the debate was ABC’s plummeting ratings. According to industry insiders, the network saw a significant drop in viewership following the debate, with many calling it the “worst performance” in recent history.
“For a network like ABC, which prides itself on being a trusted source of information, this is a disaster,” said one media analyst. “Their credibility has taken a massive hit, and it’s going to take a long time to recover.”
The network’s usual post-debate analysis programs also suffered from the fallout. Viewers who would typically stick around for post-debate coverage simply tuned out. Even World News Tonight—ABC’s flagship program—saw its ratings dip in the days following the debate. “The trust factor is gone,” said one former ABC viewer. “If I can’t trust them to moderate a debate fairly, why should I trust their news coverage?”
