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The Internet Wants to Know What Happened to Lester Holt at the Presidential Debate

By
Katie Reilly
Katie Reilly
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By
Katie Reilly
Katie Reilly
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September 26, 2016, 10:06 PM ET
Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks as Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton listens during their first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead
Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks as Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton listens during their first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, U.S., September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Joe Raedle/Pool - RTSPKD5Joe Raedle — Reuters

As Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump squared off during Monday night’s presidential debate, many on social media questioned moderator Lester Holt’s involvement—or lack thereof, as Holt largely refrained from interrupting the candidates in their answers.

There was much debate, leading up to Monday night, about the appropriate role of a presidential debate moderator, as Clinton’s campaign called for live fact-checking while Trump’s argued that it should be left up to the candidates to rebut each other.

https://twitter.com/sacca/status/780578940184170498

Is Lester Holt still there? #Debates2016

— Jared Polis (@jaredpolis) September 27, 2016

RIP @LesterHoltNBC

— Tom Crabtree (@itsCrab) September 27, 2016

We need a new hashtag: #whereislester. Dude is invisible while they still argue and interrupt each other over the second question.

— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) September 27, 2016

Why is Lester Holt not moderating this? #debates

— Rita Wilson (@RitaWilson) September 27, 2016

Lester Holt right now. #debatenight pic.twitter.com/WHr1lYdgfJ

— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) September 27, 2016

So far Lester Holt's earnings-per-word rate is off the charts.

— David French (@DavidAFrench) September 27, 2016

This is Lester moderating the debate #Debates #whereisLester pic.twitter.com/5hO6P6EdVW

— Dalia Hashim (@DaliaMHashim) September 27, 2016

Has anyone seen @LesterHoltNBC? #whereislester #debates pic.twitter.com/aXnFjmvFKy

— Greg (@gregpnyc) September 27, 2016

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By Katie Reilly
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