CNN takes heat for lack of fact checks during Trump, Biden debate
![CNN takes heat for lack of fact checks during Trump, Biden debate](https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/AP24180083893329-e1719541463568.jpg?w=900)
CNN is coming under heavy criticism after two of its top anchors failed to offer real-time fact checks of false statements made by former President Trump and President Biden as they moderated Thursday night's presidential debate.
During the highly anticipated and nationally televised clash, both Trump and Biden made a number of misleading or false statements about topics ranging from crime to immigration to the economy.
Moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash on multiple occasions offered follow up questions when a candidate had not used up all of their allotted speaking time or had not answered a question directly.
But neither, however, offered any fact checks to the two men's assertions during the 90-minute broadcast.
“CNN's decision to abrogate its journalistic responsibilities by not fact checking Trump's firehose of lies is unforgivable,” wrote former cable news host Keith Olbermann in one social media post.
“I wish the CNN moderators did more fact-checking, letting the audience know when things are said that are flatly false. Not sure how it helps for a platform to transmit falsehoods disguised as facts,” added New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof.
In a statement to The Hill late Thursday, CNN said “we are very proud of Jake and Dana. Our job was to make sure candidates were heard so voters can make informed decisions and we are pleased we were able to do that.”
Biden' allies and some on the left expressed frustration with how the moderators responded to Trump's false statements late Thursday.
Biden himself even seemed to voice some displeasure with the fact Trump was allowed to make statements about him without much pushback.
“What’s going to happen over the next couple of days is they’re going to be out there fact checking all the things he said,” Biden said at a post-debate fundraiser in Atlanta. “I can’t think of one thing that he said was true.”
Going into Thursday night's debate, CNN had faced intense criticism from Trump's campaign accusing Tapper, Bash and the network more generally of bias against him.
As it announced ground rules for this week's debate, CNN said Tapper and Bash would be “empowered to use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion.”
The network's political director David Chalian told the New York Times earlier this week Thursday’s live debate “is not the ideal arena for live fact-checking,” and so Tapper and Bash would be focused on “facilitating the debate between these candidates, not being a participant in that debate.”
The outlet's resident fact checker Daniel Dale did offer some live fact checks online of claims being made on the debate stage, but those did not appear as part of its 90-minute broadcast which is expected to net an audience of tens of millions.
But as far as the Biden campaign was concerned, by late Thursday night the damage had already been done.
“He [Trump] just lied through his teeth throughout the debate without any recourse from the moderators. Of course, the president had an opportunity to push him and did on many of the issues," a source familiar with the Biden campaign told The Hill. "The moderators sat there and let him lie through his teeth the entire time.”
Updated at 12:01 a.m.
Date: | |
Tag: | Joe Biden |
Filter
-
CBS News - Top stories
Fact-checking claims from Biden and Trump during the first 2024 debate
CBS News fact-checked some of the claims President Biden and former President Donald Trump made during Thursday's presidential debate. CBS News' Major Garrett breaks down three quick fact-checks.Joe Biden -
NBC News - Top stories
Fact-check: Trump unleashed a torrent of misinformation on topics from terrorism to taxes
Trump made a series of misleading claims on topics ranging from Jan. 6 to terrorism to taxes at the first 2024 presidential debate, while Biden flubbed some facts.Donald Trump -
ABC News - Top stories
Fact checking the Biden-Trump presidential debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump met for a showdown over policy and their records, but not everything was factual.Joe Biden -
ABC News - Entertainment
Fact checks were prevalent during and after the Biden-Trump debate — but not for real-time viewers
Those with an interest can find several exhaustive, independent fact checks of claims made by Joe Biden and Donald Trump during their televised debate on Thursday night -
CBS News - Top stories
Trump and Biden's first presidential debate of 2024, fact checked
Here's CBS News' fact check of statements made by Biden and Trump during the first 2024 presidential debate.Joe Biden -
BBC News - Top stories
Illegal migration, tax and abortion - fact checking Trump-Biden debate
BBC Verify looks into various claims made on stage by Donald Trump and Joe Biden.Abortion -
CBS News - Top stories
Voters disappointed in lack of policy debate between Biden, Trump
Voters holding a watch party agreed there was no clear winner between President Biden and former President Donald Trump during Thursday's debate. They expressed frustration over the lack of policy details the candidates provided.Joe Biden -
CBS News - Top stories
Trump and Biden take aim at each other's records during first 2024 debate
President Biden and former President Donald Trump tore into each other's records during Thursday night's presidential debate, hosted by CNN. CBS News' Robert Costa and John Dickerson discuss how the candidates handled their responses.Joe Biden -
ABC News - Entertainment
How did CNN's moderators do in the Biden-Trump debate? It almost didn't matter that they were there
It almost didn't seem to matter that CNN's Dana Bash and Jake Tapper were on stage for the much-awaited presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump
More from The Hill
-
The Hill - Politics
John Dean says Nixon 'would have survived' Watergate under immunity ruling
John Dean, former White House counsel for the Nixon administration, said he believes former President Nixon “would have survived” the Watergate scandal if the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling issued MOnday, which largely shields former presidents ... -
The Hill - Politics
Evening Report — Supreme Court gives Trump broad immunity in landmark case
🔷 Plus: Democrats' Biden dilemma grows as polls trickle in after debate {beacon} Evening Report Monday, July 1 © Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool Supreme Court gives Trump broad immunity in landmark case The Supreme Court on Monday ...Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
7 Democrats being floated as potential Biden replacements
President Biden’s campaign is intensely trying to quell speculation that he may drop out of the 2024 race following his lackluster debate performance last week. Most top Democrats have voiced support for Biden continuing in the race, while ...Joe Biden -
The Hill - Politics
Trump edges out Biden in New Hampshire in post-debate poll
Former President Trump has a 2-point lead over President Biden in New Hampshire, according to a poll published Monday, showing significant gains for Trump after Biden’s poor debate performance last week. The Saint Anselm College poll found that 44 ...Joe Biden -
The Hill - Politics
Rubio, Tim Scott would give Trump biggest boost as vice president: Poll
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) are the two vice-presidential contenders who would offer the biggest boost to former President Trump if they were selected as his running mate, according to a new poll. A Harvard CAPS-Harris poll ...Donald Trump