Social media users on X thrashed ABC News Friday after the outlet presented a campaign ad from former President Barack Obama in favor of a Virginia redistricting measure as an “exclusive.”
“Why the hell does a major news network consider an extremely partisan campaign ad an ‘exclusive’?” RealClearInvestigations senior writer Mark Hemingway asked.
The criticism followed ABC News labeling a campaign ad featuring Obama urging Virginians to vote “yes” on a redistricting measure as an exclusively obtained clip.
The measure could boost Democrats in the 2026 midterms if approved.
REPUBLICANS TARGET SPANBERGER AS ‘GOVERNOR BAIT AND SWITCH’ IN BID TO DEFEAT DEMS REDISTRICTING PUSH
“By voting yes, you can push back against the Republicans trying to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterms,” Obama said in the video.
“By voting yes, you can take a temporary step to level the playing field. And we’re counting on you.”
Other criticism abounded in the comments of Hemingway’s post, with some accusing ABC of being a “propaganda machine” while others blasted the legacy media as a whole.
VIRGINIA CONGRESSMAN SAYS SPANBERGER WANTS TO ‘TURN US INTO NEW ENGLAND’
“It’s so exclusive I saw it on YouTube before my video started about 20 times in the past week,” one user wrote.
Retired U.S. diplomat Alberto Miguel Fernandez chimed in similarly: “Every time I turn on the television here in Virginia, I see Obama saying this nonsense. For weeks now. How in the world is this “exclusive” or even new, @ABCPolitics?”
Some criticized the outlet for what they described as a partisan slant.
NY TIMES REPORTER LOSES JOB OVER HOT TUB, NFL COACH DOES NOT: SAME OLD DOUBLE-STANDARD STORY
“It’s a Democrat and it’s the corporate media. Same thing, really,” one wrote.
“Sounds like they might need to provide equal time [to the other side],” said another, while another accused them of “amplify[ing] the message for free.”
Others defended the network, responding to Hemingway’s question with, “Because it’s an exclusive I guess?” and by asking, “What does partisanship have to do with it?”
ABC News did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
