‘Was Lester Holt auditioning for Hillary’s press secretary?’ NBC moderator is criticized for Clinton bias by failing to ask about her emails or Benghazi
- Twitter has gone after moderator Lester Holt after Monday night’s debate
- Social media attacked NBC News anchor for going easy on Hillary Clinton
- They said Trump was asked tougher questions that had a bias
- Trump’s campaign didn’t immediately criticize Holt for his performance
- One infographic showed Holt interrupted Trump 30 times, Clinton only 19
- Others noted she wasn’t asked about Benghazi, her emails or foundation
Lester Holt has been lambasted on social media with accusations he favored Hillary Clinton following Monday night’s presidential debates.
Some allegations against the NBC moderator included that he frequently interrupted Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and went easy on Clinton.
Even Trump himself implied that he was disappointed the topics of Clinton’s foundation, emails and Benghazi scandal were never raised.
In an infographic, Vox.com noted Trump was interrupted by Holt when he was speaking 30 times and he stopped Clinton only 19 times.
Lester Holt has received a barrage of criticism on social media for his performance as debate moderator on Monday night
Many, including Trump, noted that Holt appeared to go easier on Clinton than he did on Trump
One question Holt asked was about Trump’s tax return, which he has refused to release.
But many agreed with Trump that Holt asked almost nothing about Clinton’s emails, Benghazi or the Clinton Foundation.
Fox News commentator Todd Starnes even wondered if Holt was auditioning for press secretary in a Clinton White House, such was his perceived bias against Trump.
After the debate, Trump tweeted: ‘Nothing on emails. Nothing on the corrupt Clinton Foundation. And nothing on #benghazi.’
However, during the 90 minute debate, Trump also didn’t bring any of those topics up.
Holt, who is a registered Republican in New York – despite allegations from Trump that the moderator is a Democrat – also implied Trump had something to hide in his tax return.
Some criticized the phrasing of questions, saying they implicitly made Trump seem racist or sexist
One infographic showed Holt interrupted Trump 30 times but only interrupted Clinton 19 times
While others noticed that Clinton wasn’t asked about her emails, Benghazi or the Clinton Foundation.
When it came to the candidates’ problematic pasts, Holt appeared to ask more questions about Trump’s birther conspiracy, which came to a head in recent weeks.
However, Breitbart noted that Holt didn’t ask Clinton about her remarks about ‘super-predators’ when she was First Lady.
Breitbart also suggested Holt framed questions to make Trump appear racist and sexist.
The site noted that, toward the end of the debate, Holt asked Trump about what he meant when he said Clinton doesn’t look ‘presidential’.
Author Pamela Geller ripped into Holt saying he ‘served his overlords quite well tonight’ before launching into a tirade about how poorly she thought he performed
Holt inserted that Clinton has become the first woman to be nominated for president when he asked his first question.
When Trump answered, Holt interrupted, Breitbart noted.
Holt also held Trump accountable for supporting the Iraq War but didn’t bring up that Clinton voted for it.
While some said that Holt’s questions put Trump on the defensive all night, others said the fact-checking was only done to Trump – not Clinton
He also appeared to interject more during Trump’s comments than Clinton, the site suggested.
Todd Starnes of Fox News asked: ‘Was Lester Holt auditioning for Hillary’s press secretary?’
On Twitter, people took note of the seemingly biased moderation.
‘Dumb @LesterHoltNBC was EXTREMELY bias during this debate
‘He did not question Crooked Hillary on Benghazi, Clinton Foundation & More!’ YouTuber Jeff Tutorials wrote.
Even moderates thought Holt didn’t do well. Some suggested he might have gone out for a bathroom break. Tony Maglio said Holt should’ve had better questions that Trump would’ve faltered over on his own
Author Pamela Geller ripped into Holt on Twitter, writing: ‘@LesterHoltNBC, you served your overlords quite well tonight.
‘The 1st prez debate & @LesterHoltNBC never asked about email server, Benghazi, Huma,HRC Foundation pay4play,ClintonFoundation,deleted emails
‘@LesterHoltNBC is totally outta control.
‘I would never have shook @LesterHoltNBC’s hand.’
However, despite the lambasting, CNN’s Brian Stelter said Trump’s campaign wasn’t upset with Holt
Former SNL writer and The Wrap reporter Tony Maglio wrote: ‘Bad job by Lester Holt & mainstream reporters on Trump walkout. Let him hang himself, tying the noose isn’t your job. Ethics, a*******.’
During the debate some noticed Holt’s performance and asked if he had left the stage as he failed to intervene and allowed candidates to go over their time limits.
Some suggested he left for a bathroom break while others asked if he was out for a snack.
Conversely, CNN’s Brian Stetler tweeted out that Trump’s campaign wasn’t taking Holt to task and said he did a great job.
Trump also told a reporter on his way out that he thought the questions were fair.