“For a network like ABC, which prides itself on being a trusted source of information, this is a disaster,” said one media analyst. “Their credibility has taken a massive hit, and it’s going to take a long time to recover.”

The network’s usual post-debate analysis programs also suffered from the fallout. Viewers who would typically stick around for post-debate coverage simply tuned out. Even World News Tonight—ABC’s flagship program—saw its ratings dip in the days following the debate. “The trust factor is gone,” said one former ABC viewer. “If I can’t trust them to moderate a debate fairly, why should I trust their news coverage?”

In response to the backlash, ABC issued a statement acknowledging their misstep but stopping short of issuing a full apology. “We strive for fairness and integrity in all our programming,” the statement read. “However, we understand that many viewers felt that the debate was not moderated in a way that met their expectations. We take this feedback seriously and will work to improve future events.”

The network’s attempt at damage control has done little to quell the anger, with critics slamming the statement as “too little, too late.”

“‘We take this feedback seriously’? That’s it?” one Twitter/X user fumed. “ABC turned the debate into a Kamala Harris fan club meeting, and all they can say is ‘oops’?”

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