ABC’s World News Tonight lost over a million viewers after backlash from conservatives who accused the network of favoring Vice President Kamala Harris during her debate with former President Donald Trump.
ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir has taken a significant hit in viewership following the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Democrat presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, with over one million viewers reportedly tuning out in the days that followed. During the September 10 debate, Muir and co-moderator Linsey Davis repeatedly fact-checked Trump, but many critics pointed out that Harris faced no similar scrutiny, leading to claims of bias from conservatives.
Fox News reported a 12% drop in viewership for *World News Tonight* immediately after the debate, with the show falling from its pre-debate average of 7.6 million viewers to 6.7 million. This decline was larger than the slight dips seen by competing broadcasts, though Muir’s program remained the top-rated evening newscast.
The backlash centered on what many saw as an uneven playing field during the debate, with Trump and his supporters criticizing Muir and Davis for giving Harris a pass on follow-up questions and fact checks while grilling Trump. Trump himself called the debate moderators a “rigged deal” during an appearance on Fox & Friends, saying their behavior reflected the broader bias in the media.
Meanwhile, media allies of Harris offered praise for Muir and Davis, with Democrat commentators commending their performance, which only deepened the divide in reactions to the event. Whether the drop in viewers signals a lasting impact on ABC’s ratings remains to be seen, but the debate has clearly fueled accusations of media bias from the Trump camp.
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