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US broadcaster David Muir smiles at the end of a presidential debate with US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 10, 2024.© Getty Images

David Muir reveals why he 'disappeared' just before the presidential debate

The World News Tonight anchor moderated the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump with Linsey Davis

Ahad Sanwari
Ahad Sanwari - New York
Senior WriterNew York
September 16, 2024
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David Muir has encountered a whirlwind of attention over the past week since acting as one of the moderators for the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

The 50-year-old ABC News anchor has received a wave of adoration and new fans, most notably from the Democratic side, and just made his first talk show appearance since. The debate took place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia the night of September 10, and it's estimated that over 70 million people tuned in for the highly-anticipated event.

He joined his close friends Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos on the latest edition of LIVE with Kelly and Mark on Monday, September 16 to talk about life pre and post-debate, some updates on the new assassination attempt on Trump, plus his anniversary with World News Tonight.

Kelly asked David whether he'd been fielding multiple offers for talk show appearances and interviews since the debate (which even led to him being deemed a "sex symbol" by some), and he joked in response: "I said, 'Only Kelly and Mark'."

"I can't believe we got you here, I really appreciate it," Kelly added. David has been close friends with Kelly's entire family for years, with the two first meeting each other on the ABC lot years ago. Even her three kids with Mark refer to him as "uncle David."

David Muir and Kelly Ripa pose at the 6th Annual Save the Children Illumination Gala at the American Museum of Natural History on November 14, 2018 in New York City.© Getty Images
David joined his good friend Kelly Ripa on LIVE with Kelly and Mark

He alluded to it when he spoke further about the weeks and months leading up to the debate, telling the hosts: "You guys know me better than anyone."

MORE: Gayle King's sweet gesture to ABC's David Muir revealed

"I basically disappeared for the end of the summer because of the weight of this debate," he continued. David moderated the debate with fellow World News Tonight anchor Linsey Davis.

US broadcaster David Muir (L) and US broadcaster Linsey Davis (R) pose for pictures with ABC News crew members at the end of a presidential debate with US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 10, 2024© Getty Images
David and Linsey were the moderators of the ABC presidential debate

"You take it seriously, Linsey and I, and this extraordinary small team we have at ABC, and we spent a lot of time. And I believe it was our duty to ask about the issues that Americans care about."

MORE: David Muir shares rare personal update during time away from ABC studio as fans send praise

He alluded to the "noise" that came after the debate, saying to the studio audience: "All of the noise that you hear afterward, about which candidate won the debate, the moderators win or lose, that's just noise. You all know that. The most important thing to remember is that you all have the power."

David Muir attends the 2019 Adapt Leadership Awards at Cipriani 42nd Street on March 14, 2019 in New York City© Getty Images
"I basically disappeared for the end of the summer because of the weight of this debate."

Kelly asked David how long it took for him to "recover" from the madness of that day, and whether he'd even recovered at all, and he quipped back: "This is recovery, right here!"

MORE: Kelly Ripa supported by David Muir following emotional moment away from home

He then recalled a moment from before the debate involving his producer, describing the tiny stage and affirmed that there were indeed only four people in the room for the entire duration of the debate, while ABC producers and members of the candidates' teams were outside.

NEWS - "Kamala Harris and Donald Trump  ABC News Presidential Debate" airs Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 9:00 p.m. EDT, live on ABC and streams live on the 24/7 streaming network ABC News Live, Disney+, and Hulu from Philadelphia, PA, and will be simulcast. "World News Tonight" anchor and managing editor David Muir and "World News Tonight" Sunday anchor and ABC News Live "Prime" anchor Linsey Davis are the moderators.© Getty Images
The tiny debate stage featured no live audience, just the two candidates and the two moderators

"Nobody in the room, no audience," he confirmed, then confessing that the one thing he did right before the debate was ask for his bag so he could turn off his cellphone "so that Kelly would not text me in the middle of the debate."

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