ITV GMB accused of ‘hitting new low’ with ‘gutter’ US election coverage as anti-Trump bias row explodes

Good Morning Britain, ITV’s flagship breakfast show, has come under fire from a number of viewers for its coverage of the US presidential election.

In a historic race, Donald Trump was announced as President-Elect after seeing off Democrat candidate Kamala Harris at the ballot box.

On Wednesday morning, hours after Trump had declared himself the victor after emerging victorious in several swing states, his victory was officially confirmed.

In the build-up to the official announcement, Ed Balls and Susanna Reid fronted GMB’s coverage live from Washington DC where they’d lined up a series of guests to offer their opinions on the race for the White House.

Journalist Jon Sopel and Pat Spearman, the Democratic Nevada State Senator, sparred with Sarah Palin during one discussion early on in the show while later, Trump’s estranged nephew Fred joined Reid and Balls with a disparaging account of his uncle.

Harris supporter and journalist Mehdi Hasan also took part in proceedings where he issued a stark warning about Trump in the White House, branding him “angrier” and “after vengeance” now he’s regained the presidency.

Elsewhere, Reid and Balls were keen to hear from Trump-backing actor Rob Schneider, but the interview went awry when the presenting duo and the star continually spoke over one another.

The Schneider chat led to calls of “bias” from some angered viewers, with one saying on X: “You guys are so biased and disrespectful – if you invite someone on the show have the respect to listen to them and not constantly talk over them. Amateur hour.”

But arguably the biggest reaction and outpouring of claims of “bias” came when Balls and Reid spoke to Stormy Daniels about Trump’s projected victory.

The former adult movie actress was embroiled in a high-profile hush money legal case with Trump earlier this year which saw the President-Elect charged with 34 felony counts. Trump has denied the affair and that he falsified business records in regards to allegedly paying Daniels.

During their discussion with Daniels, which went on uninterrupted, she branded Trump a “petty child” and a “lunatic” before she took aim at “the American people” for not “stepping up at the voting booth” to shun Trump and claimed his victory was “because of racism”.

Soon after the clips were shared by the GMB X account, viewers flooded the social media page with their complaints.

“What a delightful circus you’ve whipped up this morning,” one fan raged. “Gutter level journalism is one thing, but digging through the last two decade’s laundry for shock value, now that’s low, even by your standards.”

“Inviting all the Trump haters on GMB this morning is embarrassing to watch,” a second added before a third claimed: “I think @GMB have just found the bottom of that barrel.”

Elsewhere, a fourth blasted: “Appalling standards from GMB as usual. I guess democracy is only good when the result goes your way #Trump.”

And a fifth critiqued: “Congratulate the man and move on!! But nooooo let’s bash @realDonaldTrump some more while we still can. @GMB your actually embarrassing yourselves.”

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Meanwhile, there was a handful of supportive messages for Daniels, in particular, with one saying: “Thought she actually came across really well!”

And Reid and Balls received support for their conduct after the latter shared a post about her time in the States on Instagram.

“You two did a bl**dy brilliant job! Well done @susannareid100,” one Instagram user commented on Reid’s page. (sic)

Trump declared victory in the 2024 US presidential election before the official verdict, hailing it as a “magnificent victory for the American people”.

‘I feel like we’re on Saturday Night Live here Rob, are we in Home Alone 4? I feel like this interview has taken a bit of a turn!’ @edballs

Republican Actor Rob Schneider says he’s very excited about another Trump presidency. pic.twitter.com/UzHxQ7ujWA

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) November 6, 2024

He also told his supporters: “I believe this was the greatest political movement of all time.”

GB News has contacted ITV for a comment on the backlash to GMB’s coverage.