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Debate moderator Linsey Davis faces racist and sexist abuse on social media for fact-checking Trump
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Debate moderator Linsey Davis faces racist and sexist abuse on social media for fact-checking Trump

ABC News anchor Linsey Davis was the target of blatant racist and sexist insults online after she fact-checked several facts about former President Donald Trump during Tuesday night’s debate.

It was the first time ever that former President and Vice President Kamala Harris were in the same room: the two presidential candidates faced off on the debate stage in Philadelphia.

During the nearly two-hour event, Trump repeated a series of wild, debunked claims ranging from abortion to the bizarre lie that migrants in Ohio are eating pet dogs and cats.

At one point, Davis corrected the former president when he incorrectly claimed that some states allow the “execution” of babies after they are born.

“There is not a single state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born,” Davis told Trump.

On X, internet trolls and Trump supporters lashed out at Davis.

While conservatives on the platform accused both Davis and her co-moderator David Muir of being biased and favoring Harris during the debate, Davis was specifically attacked with racist and sexist messages.

An X user called Davis an “idiotic DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) moderator” — an acronym conservatives have used to make racist attacks on people and undermine their position.

Another user on the platform told ABC News to “muzzle their moderator” — a sexist comment in reference to Davis.

ABC News moderators David Muir (left) and Linsey Davis (right) were criticized for fact-checking Donald Trump during the presidential debate
ABC News moderators David Muir (left) and Linsey Davis (right) were criticized for fact-checking Donald Trump during the presidential debate (Environmental Protection Authority)

Terms like “dirty woman,” “b****” and other derogatory remarks about Davis circulated on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter and currently owned by Elon Musk.

Other social media users used crude, racial slurs in their attacks on Davis, a woman of color.

Meanwhile, an X account with more than 100,000 followers posted a photo of Davis — not Muir — and asked people to, “Raise your hand if you think the ABC moderators for this presidential debate are biased against Donald Trump.”

Many others were quick to praise the two moderators for stopping Trump from spreading blatant lies, while fact-checking him live throughout the evening.

“Tonight’s debate was the best debate I’ve seen in years. @ABC well done,” wrote one X user.

Another specifically praised Davis, saying, “Y’all need to show ABC Linsey Davis’ name some more respect. lol”

Another said they were “excellent moderators.”

Trump allies, on the other hand, felt it was unfair that the two ABC News hosts were allowed to fact-check Trump. They argued that the former president was debating “three against one” — something Trump himself said on Truth Social after the debate.

During the first presidential debate between Trump and President Joe Biden in June, CNN was widely criticized on social media for not fact-checking the candidates and allowing the former president to make false claims without question.

“The biggest loser in this debate? @CNN. How can you allow lies to be told and not correct them for everyone watching?” one X user wrote at the time.