Favoritism toward Vice President Kamala Harris while repeatedly fact-checking former President Donald Trump was quite evident during Tuesday’s ABC News Presidential Debate. A recent study by the Media Research Center (MRC) found that Harris received significantly more favorable coverage on ABC’s “World News Tonight with David Muir” compared to Trump, sparking anger that the debate was set up as hostile territory for the former president. The study indicates since Harris entered the 2024 presidential race, ABC News aired a disproportionately positive portrayal of her campaign, with zero negative statements, while Trump was painted in a consistently negative light.
There was not just obvious bias, but there are also known connections between ABC News executives and Kamala Harris. Dana Walden, a high-ranking Disney executive whose portfolio includes ABC News, has been described as a close friend of Harris. The two have reportedly known each other since 1994, and their husbands have been friends since the 1980s. Although ABC has stated that Walden does not influence editorial decisions, her longstanding support for Democratic causes and her financial contributions to Harris’ political campaigns are pretty darn influential.
During the debate, Muir and Davis were criticized for allegedly focusing their fact-checks on Trump while allowing Harris to speak unchecked. Conservatives noted that Harris was not pressed on her explanation for recent policy reversals or questioned critically on key topics like abortion and immigration.
The MRC study reviewed 100 campaign stories aired on ABC’s “World News Tonight” between July 21 and September 6, during which time Harris received 25 clearly positive comments and zero negative ones. In stark contrast, Trump’s coverage included 66 negative comments and only five positive ones, translating to a 93% negative coverage score for the former president.
The MRC analysis also accused ABC of failing to portray Harris as a “liberal” candidate, ignoring voters who oppose her, and downplaying any controversies surrounding her campaign. ABC News has not yet responded to these criticisms. ABC has also come under fire from pro-life advocates for its handling of the abortion debate. During the debate, Linsey Davis fact-checked Trump on his mention of former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s infamous 2019 comments about third-trimester abortions. Trump referred to Northam’s suggestion that, in some cases, a discussion would occur between a mother and doctors if a baby were born alive following a failed abortion. Davis immediately dismissed Trump’s remarks, stating, “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.”
In response, the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America called Davis’ fact-check “100% inaccurate” and urged ABC News to issue a correction. The group’s president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, argued that Davis’ statement ignored the tragic reality of babies who survive failed abortions but are denied medical care.
