Former President Trump claims he faced an unfair advantage during the ABC News Presidential Debate, accusing moderators of targeting him with aggressive fact-checking while giving preferential treatment to his opponent.
Former President Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with his performance at the ABC News Presidential Debate in an interview with Sean Hannity on "Hannity." Trump stated that he believed it was his "best debate ever," despite claiming that he faced a significant disadvantage.
"I thought it was really good. We had three against one, but I anticipated it," Trump said, referring to debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis. He accused the moderators of fact-checking him excessively while being more lenient with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump Declares ABC Debate '3 Against 1,' Slams Moderators' Fact-Checking
One of the most heated exchanges occurred when Davis challenged Trump's claim that some states allow abortion in the ninth month of pregnancy. Trump had cited former West Virginia Governor Jim Justice's previous comments on the issue.
"They even have, and you can look at the governor of West Virginia [Virginia], the previous governor… not the current governor, who is doing an excellent job, but the governor before, he said, ‘The baby will be born, and we will decide what to do with the baby,’ in other words, we’ll execute the baby. And that’s why I did that," Trump said.
Trump Declares ABC Debate '3 Against 1,' Slams Moderators' Fact-Checking
Davis interjected, stating that no state in the country allows for the killing of a baby after birth.
Trump also took issue with Harris's performance, claiming that she had memorized lines rather than providing genuine responses to questions. "I always say I've been preparing all my life for these debates. You know, you can't go in like she did, she goes into a room, and she memorized lines more or less," he told Hannity.
Trump Declares ABC Debate '3 Against 1,' Slams Moderators' Fact-Checking
Trump's comments raised concerns among some political analysts. Fox News chief political analyst Brit Hume said that Trump "had a bad night," citing his focus on old grievances that have not resonated well with voters in the past.
Former Democratic congressman and "The Five" co-host Harold Ford, Jr. suggested that Harris could have provided more specifics in her answers and better addressed changes in her policy positions.
Trump Declares ABC Debate '3 Against 1,' Slams Moderators' Fact-Checking
Fox News has extended an invitation to both the Trump and Harris campaigns for a second debate next month. Trump indicated that he might be open to the possibility if the debate was held on a "fair network," but did not commit to a definite answer.
