The first debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris was full of fireworks, but not necessarily clarity. Moderated by ABC’s David Muir and Linsey Davis, the night was a rollercoaster of claims, counters, and heated exchanges. One thing was clear: the panel on “The Five” wasn’t impressed, and their reactions provide ample insight into why.
The debate quickly spiraled into controversy, with much of the focus shifting from the candidates themselves to the moderators and media coverage. Let’s break down the key points from the episode of “The Five” and analyze how the media, the candidates, and ultimately the voters were affected.
The Moderators Under Fire
A major talking point of the night revolved around the debate moderators and how they handled, or rather mishandled, the candidates. The panel took issue with the perceived double standards. David Muir and Linsey Davis fact-checked Donald Trump five times during the night, but Kamala Harris faced zero pushback on several questionable statements she made. This discrepancy didn’t go unnoticed by the commentators.
One glaring moment came when Harris spoke about the infamous Charlottesville “fine people” hoax and a supposed “bloodbath” if Trump lost the election. According to the panel, these claims had already been debunked, yet the moderators allowed them to go unchecked.
Greg Gutfeld, in particular, blasted the moderators for what he called a “sham competition,” pointing out that it’s impossible to gauge who won or lost a debate when one side is criticized while the other is given a free pass. “They removed the essence of fairness,” he said, adding that it felt like the debate was designed to give Harris an easy ride.
A Debate with Missed Opportunities?
Gutfeld wasn’t the only panelist questioning the quality of the debate. Jesse Watters argued that while Trump was not perfect, Kamala didn’t take advantage of his missteps or effectively sell herself as a candidate. Watters highlighted that voters still have no real idea what Kamala’s policies are. “She wasted a huge moment,” he said, noting that Harris spent more time mocking Trump than explaining how she would fix the biggest issues facing the country.
Judge Jeanine Pirro also went in hard on Harris, asserting that the Vice President dodged every substantive question sent her way. Pirro blasted Harris’ lack of clarity on crucial issues like the economy and crime. On the latter point, Pirro shared a specific critique of how ABC claimed crime was going down, despite the fact that major cities like New York and Los Angeles did not submit crime data to the FBI. “They lied,” Pirro declared, calling out the debate’s “push poll” style questions.
The Problem with Preparation
Harold Ford Jr. offered a slightly more measured take but still agreed that Trump seemed unprepared. While he believed Trump brought up important issues like tariffs and border security, he felt that Trump didn’t press Harris hard enough when he had the chance. For example, Ford noted that when Trump mentioned that Harris kept his tariffs, he didn’t follow up on that statement, letting the moment slip away.
Ford also pointed to Trump’s lack of discipline. Drawing a sports analogy, Ford said Trump felt like a basketball player who kept getting into foul trouble early in the game: “He kept committing stupid fouls.” Ford suggested that if you already know the media might be tilting things against you, you have to be more prepared, more composed. In his view, Trump wasn’t ready for that level of scrutiny.
ABC’s Performance: A Legacy Media Failure?
The panel didn’t just take shots at the candidates; they saved a significant amount of criticism for ABC and the larger media establishment. Judge Jeanine argued that the moderators were complicit in allowing Harris to coast through the debate with soft questions and no fact-checking. The panel agreed that the night exposed just how far some networks will go to protect certain candidates or narratives—often at the expense of the viewers’ ability to decide for themselves.
Pirro wasn’t shy in her disdain for how the moderators inserted themselves. She found it audacious that David Muir would offer his “interpretation” of Trump’s comments rather than letting the debate speak for itself. As she put it, “We’re not asking you for your interpretation of what Donald Trump said.” It felt like the end of credibility for legacy media, she added, pointing to the growing dissatisfaction with large news networks handling critical political events.
The Voters Lost
Across the board, the panel agreed on one thing: the American people were the real losers last night. Gutfeld summed it up bluntly. “I actually got dumber watching it,” he said, referring to the entire experience as brain-numbing. It wasn’t just about the moderators or any one candidate’s performance; it was about the frustration that viewers were left with more questions than answers.
Judge Jeanine echoed these sentiments, saying voters walked away with little clarity on where Kamala Harris stands on the big issues. A post-debate poll showed that 30% of Americans still don’t know enough about Harris to say what she believes in—and after this debate, that number likely hasn’t shifted much.
Conclusion
The first Trump vs. Harris debate was far from the knockout event viewers may have hoped for. Between Trump’s high-energy but undisciplined approach and Harris’ evasiveness, the night left a lot to be desired. Factor in the moderators’ perceived bias, and it’s no wonder “The Five” panelists felt that the true loser of the night was the American voter, who deserved better.
Will there be a second debate? Trump is considering it, but as Gutfeld pointed out, asking for a second round often signals you’re already losing. With the race as tight as it is, every debate counts, every mistake matters. Whether these two go another round or not, the voters will be desperately waiting for real answers on the issues that matter most, not just political theater.
What are your thoughts on the first Trump-Harris debate? Did the moderators handle it fairly, or did they skew too heavily in one direction? Join the conversation below!
