CBS turned off the microphones and fact-checked JD Vance in a more civil vice presidential debate, drawing the ire of Trump and his allies

new York
CNN
—

CBS anchors Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan had to make an important decision ahead of Tuesday’s vice presidential debate: Would they fact-check the candidates’ statements live and face-to-face? Or would they take a hands-off approach and have the candidates fact-check each other?

O’Donnell and Brennan decided to thread the needle. At the start of the debate, the moderators said their job was to “give candidates an opportunity to fact-check each other’s claims,” ​​but they occasionally made factual statements, often not in direct response to a candidate’s comments. In other cases, they offered the opposing candidate the opportunity to correct the record.

But the most direct fact check of the evening also led to the most dramatic moment on stage, upending the otherwise largely civil debate and leading to the moderators turning off Sen. JD Vance and Gov. Tim Walz’s microphones during an argument back and forth over Haitian immigrants in Ohio.

Earlier in the debate, Vance was answering a question about immigration when he mentioned Springfield, Ohio, saying, “He’s worried about the Americans there” whose “lives have been destroyed by Kamala Harris’ open border.”

“In Springfield, Ohio, and in communities across the country, there are schools that are overwhelmed, hospitals that are overwhelmed, and housing that is completely unaffordable because we have welcomed millions of illegal immigrants to compete with Americans for scarce housing said Vance.

After Walz responded, Brennan jumped in and explained the facts on the topic.

“And just to be clear to our viewers, there are a large number of Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, who have legal status and temporary protected status,” Brennan said.

Vance spoke up and complained about the fact check.

“Margaret, the rules said you wouldn’t fact-check, and since you’re fact-checking me, I think it’s important to say what’s actually going on,” he protested.

Brennan tried to move on, but Vance continued to describe the process by which immigrants can apply for temporary protected status, which allows Haitian immigrants to move to places like Springfield.

After a few lines from Vance and an attempted heckler from Walz, the microphones were muted as the men continued to talk over each other.

“The audience can’t hear you because your microphones are turned off,” Brennan told the contestants. “We have so much ahead of us that we want to achieve.”

Last month, ABC anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis fact-checked former President Donald Trump during his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, angering Trump and his right-wing media allies. That was the case again Tuesday night, as Trump and some of his biggest media figures expressed outrage at the moderators’ decision.

“Margaret Brennan just incorrectly ‘fact-checked’ JD on ‘climate change,'” Trump wrote on Truth Social after Brennan said scientists overwhelmingly believe the Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate. “When is she going to check Tampon Tim for all his false statements? Another repeat of the fake news being unfair to the Republican candidate and trying to push the pathetic Democrat over the finish line. But that doesn’t matter, the public sees it for what it is – FAKE NEWS!”

“Both young ladies were extremely biased moderators!” Trump raged in another post.

Megyn Kelly, the former Fox News and NBC host turned conservative podcaster, also attacked CBS for fact-checking Vance’s claims. “For you CBS – how dare you,” she wrote on X.

At Fox News, the issue was the focus of Brit Hume, the right-wing channel’s chief political analyst. “The anchors were obnoxious and made it look like three on one with Vance,” he said.

Walz asked Vance if Trump lost the 2020 election. Hear how Vance responded

Fox primetime host and Trump supporter Laura Ingraham added: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Republican so deftly maneuver the smug and arrogant bias of these anchors.” Almost every question was aimed at that “To make Republicans look bad and distort Trump’s views on child care.”

But the Trump campaign itself didn’t seem to bother the moderators too much.

Jason Miller, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, told CNN in the newsroom after the debate: “I didn’t like how they went back on their word on fact-checking. But I think Senator Vance handled this situation masterfully and was able to give his full response and clarify the issue.”