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Last night (September 10th), Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump met at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia for their first presidential debate. The highly anticipated face off saw the two candidates clash on a range of topics, with both displaying their distinct strategies. Needless to say, the night brought fireworks and the internet was there for every second of it. Continue reading to see some of the funniest, most unhinged, and thought-provoking (and everything in between) reactions to the debate.
Vice President Kamala Harris focused most of her attention on presenting herself as a forward-looking leader, whose goal was to “turn the page” on Trump’s presidency. On a number of occasions she challenged the her opponent’s record, specifically how he handled the economy and COVID-19. The Howard University alumna claimed that Joe Biden’s administration had to clean up Donald Trump’s mess. Harris’ performance seemed to appeal to voters seeking change, as she frequently spoke on abortion rights and the restoration of federal protections.
Donald Trump doubled down on some familiar themes, most notably claims of election fraud in 2020 and harsh critiques of Biden’s administration. Trump accused Harris of holding extreme positions on issues, especially immigration. At times, his intense rhetoric swayed into him making controversial statements, including claims about immigrants harming pets. This statement was abruptly fact-checked by one of the moderators.
The debate included moments of confrontation from both candidates. It was evident that Harris occasionally taking a prosecutorial tone with Trump put him on the defensive. His supporters blamed his performance on what they considered unfair moderation (ABC News’ David Muir and Linsey Davis served as moderators). Critics believe that he just a difficult time controlling the debate. While the common consensus is that Harris won the debate (by a long mile), the impact it will have on the race is still yet to be seen, with the election still close.
Although we’re uncertain about how the election will eventually turn out, one thing we always know is that the internet never misses a chance to do its thing. In true form, last night wasn’t any different. Check out some of the best reactions from one of, if not the most memorable presidential debate ever.
