Donald Trump is no stranger to attacking the media, but his latest tirade against ABC News after a disastrous debate performance has drawn new attention to his authoritarian approach to handling criticism. After a debate with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, during which Trump was fact-checked in real-time by moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis, the former president called for the entire ABC News team to be fired, accusing the network of bias and unfair treatment.
The debate, which took place at The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, was marked by Trump’s outlandish claims, lack of focus, and meandering answers. His performance was widely criticized by media commentators and debate viewers, with many declaring Harris the clear winner. Trump’s demand to fire ABC staff, combined with his consistent attacks on the press, signals his ongoing attempts to undermine media organizations that hold him accountable.
During the 90-minute debate, Trump faced intense scrutiny for his repeated false statements and inflammatory rhetoric. Moderators Muir and Davis fact-checked him on several occasions, including a baseless claim that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were “stealing and eating pets.” Muir stepped in, stating, “I just want to clarify here, you bring up Springfield, Ohio, and ABC News did contact the city manager there. He told us they had no credible reports of pets or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals in the immigrant community.”
Trump also falsely alleged that post-birth abortions were taking place in the United States, a claim he has repeated despite being widely debunked. Moderator Davis responded directly, stating, “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.” These direct interventions from the moderators stood out in the debate and marked a rare moment of real-time fact-checking in the presidential race.
Following his subpar debate performance, Trump went on the offensive. During an interview with Fox News the morning after the debate, Trump claimed the debate was “rigged” and demanded that ABC News be punished for its handling of the event. “They’re a news organization. They have to be licensed to do it. They ought to take away their license for the way they did that,” Trump said, demonstrating a fundamental misunderstanding of how television networks are regulated.
Trump did not stop at attacking the network as a whole. In a separate post on his Truth Social platform, Trump escalated his demand, writing, “They should fire everybody at ABC Fake News, whose two lightweight ‘anchors’ have brought disgrace onto the company!”
Trump’s ire was focused on what he saw as excessive fact-checking. “They correct[ed] everything I said,” Trump complained, adding that Harris wasn’t fact-checked nearly as much. In reality, Harris was not immune to fact-checking, but her statements during the debate were far less controversial and didn’t require the same scrutiny as Trump’s repeated falsehoods.
Trump’s attacks on ABC News are not an isolated incident. Throughout his political career, Trump has relentlessly attacked the media, labeling journalists as “enemies of the people” and calling for punitive measures against news organizations that report negatively on him. During his presidency, he famously revoked the press credentials of CNN’s Jim Acosta after a heated exchange during a press conference. While Acosta’s credentials were later reinstated after CNN threatened legal action, the incident was emblematic of Trump’s authoritarian tendencies when it comes to press freedom.
Moreover, Trump’s repeated calls to revoke the nonexistent “licenses” of news organizations reveal a dangerous misunderstanding—or disregard—for the protections of the First Amendment. While local broadcast stations may have FCC licenses, national news organizations like ABC News do not, and Trump’s calls for their punishment are not grounded in any legal reality.
The ability of journalists and news organizations to fact-check political leaders in real-time is a critical element of democratic governance. Without a free press, misinformation could easily go unchecked, allowing powerful figures like Trump to shape the narrative to fit their own agenda. By fact-checking Trump’s false claims on immigration, crime, and abortion, ABC News played a crucial role in ensuring that viewers were presented with accurate information.
Trump’s calls for punishment against ABC News are part of a broader pattern of attempting to discredit and silence journalists. At his rallies, Trump has encouraged hostility toward members of the press, even going so far as to suggest that violence against journalists was justified. At a recent campaign event, when one of his followers appeared to move toward attacking a member of the press, Trump remarked approvingly, saying the person was “on our side.”
Trump’s actions pose a clear threat to the freedom of the press. By consistently attacking and seeking to punish news organizations that challenge him, Trump is demonstrating his authoritarian impulses and disregard for democratic norms. If elected again, the consequences for journalistic freedom could be severe.
“The press is so dishonest in this country, it’s amazing,” Trump complained after the debate.
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