Trump has a meltdown and threatens ABC News for fact-checking the debate

Donald Trump responded to fact-checking by ABC News during the presidential debate by threatening the network's broadcast license.

Trump said on Fox and Friends.

ABC, they are the most dishonest, the most dishonest news organization in my opinion.

And that's saying a lot, because they're essentially all of them. Really dishonest, but I thought I did a great job. It was three on one And I thought I had done a great job now. I would send you the polls but last night I was winning every poll like 10 out of 90 we had CSPAN At one point it was 20 out of 80 and I don't know how it ended up it was late last night so i don't have idea, but it was 20 out of 80.

…

Many people are very angry about it. You know, you have corrupt news organizations. You have a lot of bad people. It's amazing in this business. In your business.

…

They're being dishonest and because I think ABC took a big hit last night. I mean, to be fair, they're a news organization, they have to have a license to do that. They should take away their license like they did.

Video:

Trump threatens ABC for daring to vet him. They have to get their license for their license.” pic.twitter.com/aq9vEPHfXS

Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) September 11, 2024

The right-wing media and Trump they've found their scapegoat for Trump's terrible debate performance, and it's ABC News. Fox complained that ABC did not fact-check VP Harris.

There is a good reason for that.

Here is the number of false statements made by each candidate.

Republicans whine that Trump was corrected by moderators… well…. pic.twitter.com/tkAY28WAtm

Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) September 11, 2024

ABC News only fact-checked Donald Trump ten percent of the time, but the moderators made an excellent choice because they ran the claims that were the most false and out of reality.

Donald Trump did what all authoritarians do on Fox and Friends. When held accountable by the Free Press, he threatened to end press freedom.

Trump knows he lost the debateand he is looking for excuses.

ABC didn't tell Trump to talk about eating animals. He did it all by himself. Donald Trump is why Donald Trump lost the debate. No one else is to blame.

Join us to comment on this story Reddit:

Jason is the managing editor. She is also the White House Press Center and Congressional Correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a BA in Political Science. Her graduate work focused on public policy, specializing in social reform movements.

Awards and professional memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Political Science Association