ABC News has fired back at former President Donald Trump’s explosive accusations that Vice President Kamala Harris received a sneak peek at the debate questions ahead of their highly anticipated face-off.
In a statement to The Daily Beast, an ABC spokesperson categorically denied the allegations, stating, “Absolutely not. Harris was not given any questions before the debate.”
Trump’s claims, made during an interview on Fox & Friends, have sparked a media frenzy. The 45th president expressed suspicion after watching Harris’ debate performance, claiming she seemed “awfully familiar with the questions.” He accused ABC News of setting up an unfair playing field, branding the event “rigged.”
However, ABC wasted no time shutting down the conspiracy theory. The network confirmed that none of Harris’ aides had any contact with debate moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis, ahead of Tuesday night’s clash in Philadelphia. ABC also pointed out that its debate rules were clear: “No topics or questions will be shared in advance with campaigns or candidates.”
Trump’s accusations against ABC
The accusations come after what many observers deemed a heated and tense debate. “It was a rigged deal, as I assumed it would be,” Trump remarked, adding, “I’ve had worse odds before, but never so obvious.”
Trump, never one to shy away from controversy, labeled the event as a “three-on-one” affair, criticizing the moderators for repeatedly fact-checking him while allowing Harris to speak without interruption.
Throughout the 90-minute debate, Trump was fact-checked at least five times, drawing ire from his supporters, who have echoed his complaints of bias. Harris, meanwhile, remained composed and uninterrupted, delivering her responses with confidence-a stark contrast to the embattled former president, who spent much of the debate on defense.
As the political drama unfolds, ABC’s strong denial aims to put the rumors to rest, but in the ever-volatile world of U.S. politics, this fiery exchange is unlikely to be the last we hear of it.
