ABC News fired presidential debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis.
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ABC World News Tonight Anchor David Muir, left, addresses members of the audience while standing with ABC News Live Anchor Linsey Davis Feb. 7, 2020 in Manchester, N.H.
No, ABC News did not fire presidential debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis
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We found no credible news stories or ABC News statements saying that presidential debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis were fired.
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The article making the claim originated on a satire news website.
ABC News’ debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis took a page from fact-checkers' books during the Sep. 10 presidential debate when they called out false claims former President Donald Trump made in real time. Some social media users claimed the move cost the moderators their jobs.
"ABC Fires Debate Moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis: "They Are a Disgrace to Their Profession," a Sept. 12 Facebook post reads.
Screenshot from Facebook
This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)
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The Facebook post links to an article that said ABC News released a statement Sept. 11 that the network fired Muir and Davis for fact-checking Trump and asking Vice President Kamala Harris’ questions. The article also said X CEO Elon Musk and conservative talk show host Megyn Kelly commented online about the firing.
We searched Google and the Nexis news database and found no reports about ABC News firing Muir and Davis.
ABC News’ press site also contains no statements about a firing.
The article in the post was originally published Sep. 12 on a site describing itself as "your one-stop destination for satirical news and commentary about the United States of America." But the Facebook post resharing the article did not include a satire label.
We contacted an ABC News spokesperson but received no response.
We rate the claim that ABC News fired debate moderators Muir and Davis Pants on Fire!
Our Sources
Facebook post (archived), Sept. 12, 2024
News Edge, ABC Fires Debate Moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis: "They Are a Disgrace to Their Profession", Sept. 12, 2024
Truth Social post, Sept. 11, 2024
ABC News Press Site, accessed Sept. 13, 2024
Esspots, ABC Fires Debate Moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis: "They Are a Disgrace to Their Profession", Sep. 12, 2024
Esspots, About Us, accessed Sept. 13, 2024
Sky News, ‘Three on one pile-on’: Megyn Kelly slams moderation for landmark presidential debate between Trump and Harris, Sept. 12, 2024
YouTube, Megyn Kelly: ABC News debate was ‘utterly unfair’ to Trump, Sept. 12, 2024
X post, Sept. 11, 2024
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No, ABC News did not fire presidential debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis
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