Former President Donald Trump faced off against Vice President Kamala Harris in a debate where Harris presented aggressive attacks and coherent rebuttals that seemed to rattle Trump. She baited him, leading to moments of frustration and anger on his part that some allies noted as a key weakness. Despite Trump’s attempt to criticize the ABC News moderators and declare the night a win, he missed an opportunity to solidify his good personal vibes with voters. The debate covered issues such as the economy, abortion, and immigration, with Trump trying to link Harris to the Biden administration while Harris emphasized her differences from both Trump and Biden.
Trump focused heavily on criticizing Biden and Harris, claiming that the country was at risk under their leadership. He attempted to highlight issues where Harris had changed her positions, including fracking and gun ownership, to undermine her credibility. Harris, on the other hand, criticized Trump’s stance on abortion, highlighting the impact of his Supreme Court appointees on federal protections for the procedure. She also challenged Trump’s claims about the 2020 election, stating his false victory claim and inability to accept reality.
Throughout the debate, Harris managed to provoke Trump, leading him off on tangents and causing frustration. She criticized Trump for his obsession with crowd sizes at his rallies and managed to get under his skin on several occasions. Despite Trump’s attempts to portray himself as a strong, popular leader, Harris turned the argument around, claiming that world leaders were actually laughing at him. Trump tried to defend himself by citing praise from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, but the overall tone of the debate seemed to favor Harris.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a former competitor of Trump, criticized his debate performance, stating that he chased every rabbit down every hole and should fire his debate prep team. Christie also noted that Harris effectively undermined Trump’s self-image as a strong leader. Trump’s frustration and anger during the debate, combined with Harris’ calm and calculated responses, may have left voters with a negative impression of his ability to lead. While Trump tried to emphasize his economic record and attack Harris on policy changes, Harris countered with a focus on pocketbook concerns for middle-class voters and criticism of Trump’s stance on abortion.
