David Muir, the anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight, saw his ratings plummet after moderating the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. According to a report from the New York Post, Muir’s nightly news broadcast experienced a 12% drop in viewership, falling to 6.7 million in the days following the debate.
Muir and co-moderator Linsey Davis were criticized for their handling of the debate, with many accusing them of bias. Conservative viewers, in particular, were outraged by what they saw as a lopsided event in which Trump was repeatedly fact-checked, while Harris was allowed to make dubious claims without being challenged. In some instances, the fact-checks directed at Trump were themselves inaccurate, further fueling the backlash.
Former President Trump voiced his frustration, describing the debate as “one-sided” and saying it felt like “one against three.” He argued that the moderators had an obligation to fact-check both candidates equally but failed to do so.
Muir, despite the ratings drop, remains the top-rated evening news anchor. However, the significant decline in viewership suggests a loss of trust from a portion of the audience, particularly conservatives, who felt the debate was unfairly moderated. As the election season continues, media bias and fairness in political coverage are likely to remain hot-button issues.
