ABC News anchor Linsey Davis acknowledged in a post-debate interview that her decision to fact-check former President Donald Trump during the recent presidential debate was influenced by the perceived mishandling of a previous debate hosted by CNN between Trump and President Joe Biden. The June 27 debate had been criticized for allowing Trump’s statements to go largely unchallenged, and this criticism informed Davis' approach to the ABC debate, where Trump faced Vice President Kamala Harris.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Davis explained her rationale, stating, “People were concerned that statements were allowed to just hang and not [be] disputed by the candidate Biden, at the time, or the moderators.” This concern, she said, led to a more proactive fact-checking effort during the debate.

Davis became a focal point of the debate after a viral moment in which she corrected Trump following his claim regarding former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s remarks about late-term abortion. Trump suggested that a live baby could be killed after birth following a discussion between the physician and the mother. Davis immediately interjected, stating, "There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born."

While liberals applauded Davis for holding Trump accountable, some pro-life groups demanded a correction from ABC News, calling Davis’s response "100% inaccurate."

Despite Davis’ assertions of fairness, Trump and his supporters alleged that the ABC moderators, including David Muir, were biased in favor of Harris. Trump claimed the debate was rigged, saying on Fox & Friends, "It was three to one. It was a rigged deal, as I assumed it would be."

Critics pointed out that, during the debate, the moderators fact-checked Trump five times but did not correct any of Harris' statements. However, Davis insisted that her team intended to fact-check both candidates and that it was impossible to catch every single misstatement in real-time.

Davis and Muir reportedly spent hours studying campaign rallies and interviews to prepare for the debate, ready to counter what they viewed as the candidates’ "most egregious statements."

Addressing accusations of bias, Davis explained that she is aware of the stereotypes that suggest she might be unable to be impartial. "I can’t be unbiased covering this moment," Davis said, adding that online critics frequently remind her of this perceived challenge. In response to the mounting criticism, Davis chose to shut off her social media accounts to avoid the negative commentary.

As the 2024 election draws near, the role of debate moderators and their responsibility to fact-check in real-time will likely continue to be a point of contention. Davis’s approach, influenced by the previous CNN debate, underscores the challenges moderators face in balancing neutrality with the need to hold candidates accountable for their statements.