NEW YORK (AP) – After initially taking a hands-off approach to the two strong-willed presidential candidates before him, NBC’s Lester Holt more aggressively challenged Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as the general election’s first debate wore on and he warmed to the often-thankless role of moderator.
Holt asked questions about job creation and home-grown terrorism in Monday’s first debate, and also hit on specific issues regarding the birther controversy, Trump’s decision not to release his tax returns and Clinton’s email scandal. The sole journalist onstage, Holt was responsible for the questions asked and for steering the conversation.
While some Republicans rushed online to accuse the NBC News veteran of being unfair to their candidate, Trump himself praised Holt for his work.
“I thought it was great,” Trump said, adding that he thought Holt had done a very good job.
It was the NBC “Nightly News” anchor’s first general election debate, after doing a Democratic forum during the primaries. Holt has been NBC’s top anchor for more than a year, taking over from Brian Williams after Williams was caught lying about his role in news stories.