Former President Donald Trump launched a fierce attack on Fox Business Network host Neil Cavuto on Wednesday, September 11 after Cavuto harshly criticized Trump’s performance in the September 10 debate against Vice President Kamala Harris. Cavuto, speaking on his show “Cavuto: Coast to Coast,” stated that Trump “decisively lost” the debate.
Cavuto did not mince words when discussing the former president’s performance during the face-off with Harris. “He had six prior presidential debates to this one,” Cavuto noted while in conversation with Bob Cusack, editor-in-chief of “The Hill.” “But this one, at least in my liking—and you’re the expert here—he decisively lost it. He might have made some very good presentations on where the economy was, but it was all over the map.”
Cavuto continued by describing Trump’s debate performance as not just a minor setback but a significant defeat. “This was that first occasion where it wasn’t just a close call,” Cavuto said. “It was a lopsided one.”
His remarks were further supported by several polls indicating that most viewers believed Harris had emerged victorious in the debate. According to a CNN flash poll, 63% of viewers thought Harris outperformed Trump, with only 37% favoring Trump.
Trump, known for his outspoken nature, did not let Cavuto’s comments slide. Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump lashed out at Cavuto, branding him “Fox’s Lowest Rated Anchor” and “one of the WORST on Television.” He went even further by stating, “I actually prefer the losers at CNN and MSDNC!”
Polls conducted after the debate echoed Cavuto’s assessment. A YouGov poll showed that 54% of registered voters believed Harris won the debate, while only 31% supported Trump. Trump’s controversial debate performance included spreading false claims about issues like immigration, where he suggested that dogs were being eaten by immigrants, and his opposition to what he called the “execution” of babies after birth, which seemed to further alienate some voters.
Despite the criticism, Trump’s supporters quickly rallied to his defense, with some pointing to alternative polls. In one of his Truth Social posts, Trump highlighted unscientific surveys conducted on platforms like X and Newsmax, where 93% of respondents believed he won the debate. Trump used these polls to claim that Harris is seeking another debate only because “she lost so badly.”
While Cavuto and other political analysts criticized Trump’s performance, not everyone agreed that the debate would have a lasting impact on the election. A Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that although Harris had a slight lead over Trump in the presidential race, the debate did not significantly change the views of most voters. Reportedly, 82% of those surveyed said the debate did not affect their choice for president.
The clash between Trump and Cavuto is not new. The two have a long history of public disagreements, with Trump previously calling Cavuto “garbage” after the anchor criticized him on several occasions. This latest round of criticism only deepens the rift between Trump and some members of the conservative media, who have started to distance themselves from the former president’s rhetoric.
As the dust settles on this latest confrontation, it remains to be seen whether Trump will agree to another debate with Harris or stick to his claim that he won the first one. For now, Trump’s anger toward Cavuto continues to dominate headlines, with his supporters standing by his performance, even as more objective polls suggest a different narrative.