Who won the debate? Harris goads Trump into flustered performance

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris shared the stage for the first time during the presidential debate in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening.

Although they exchanged handshakes, they didn’t really connect.

During an intense 90 minutes, Harris consistently threw personal jabs at the former president, disrupting his focus and increasing the tension in this eagerly awaited matchup.

Her sharp criticisms of the size of his rally audiences, his behavior during the Capitol riot, and the former officials from his administration who have now turned into vocal opponents of his campaign consistently put Trump on the defensive.

Throughout much of the debate, Harris pushed her Republican opponent to explain his past actions and statements at length. He readily complied, occasionally raising his voice and shaking his head in response.

Harris suggested that Americans attend a Trump rally during a discussion about immigration, as they can be quite revealing. She noted that many attendees often leave the rallies early due to feeling tired and uninterested.

That comment clearly got under the former president's skin, as he devoted much of his response—on what should have been one of his strong points—to justifying the size of his rallies and undermining hers.

Trump then launched into a lengthy discussion about a discredited claim that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were kidnapping and consuming the pets of their neighbors.

If discussions are determined by which candidate effectively highlights their strengths and manages their weaknesses, then Tuesday night clearly favored the vice-president.

This became evident early in the evening when discussions focused on the economy and abortion. According to public opinion polls, a significant number of Americans are dissatisfied with the way the Biden administration, in which Harris plays an important role, has managed inflation and economic issues.

However, Harris shifted the discussion to Trump's suggested blanket tariffs, which she referred to as a "Trump sales tax." She also mentioned Project 2025, a contentious independent conservative initiative aimed at shaping a future Republican administration.

Like before, Trump separated himself from the project and stood by his tariff strategy, pointing out that the Biden administration had maintained many of the tariffs from his first term. While these were reasonable arguments, it prevented him from fully criticizing the vice president regarding inflation and the rising costs for consumers.

Regarding abortion, Trump stood by his approach, claiming that people from all walks of life wanted the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. However, surveys do not back this assertion. His explanation was at times unclear and seemed to go off-topic.

Harris, in turn, seized the chance to passionately reach out to families who have dealt with serious pregnancy issues and have been denied access to abortion services in states where the procedure is outlawed – referring to them as "Trump abortion bans."

She finished her statement by saying that it’s disrespectful to the women of America.

She delivered a well-balanced message in a region where she holds a significant lead over Trump.

As the evening unfolded, Harris repeatedly put Trump in a difficult position with pointed remarks and criticisms that he could have brushed off but seemed unable to overlook.

At one stage, Harris was questioned about her liberal views, particularly on topics like oil shale fracking that she had during her unsuccessful presidential run in 2019 but has since changed her stance on. As the conversation progressed, she continued to engage purposefully and concluded her response by mentioning that she did not rely on financial support from her affluent father.

Once more, the ex-president fell into the trap. Rather than criticizing the vice president for her inconsistent positions—a clear vulnerability—he started his reply by discussing the "small amount" of money he received from his father.

In discussing the withdrawal from Afghanistan, which is a significant shortcoming for Harris, the vice-president redirected the focus to Trump's discussions with Taliban leaders and his invitation to them at Camp David. This tactic occurred repeatedly and turned out to be quite successful.

Republicans are voicing their dissatisfaction, claiming that ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis showed bias in favor of Harris. Throughout the event, both moderators challenged and verified statements made by Trump multiple times.

Ultimately, the highlight of the evening was Trump's reactions and his willingness to grab onto every provocative remark that Harris made.

This was evident in the expressions of the two candidates. While her rival spoke, Harris maintained an intentionally bewildered or shocked expression. In contrast, Trump primarily wore a frown.

Until now, the Harris campaign has been somewhat vague about her willingness to participate in another debate. However, shortly after the conclusion of this debate, they expressed a desire for a second presidential debate before November.

That alone suggests how positively the Democrats view Harris's performance on Tuesday night.

Anthony Zurcher, our North America correspondent, breaks down the competition for the White House in his weekly newsletter, US Election Unspun. If you're in the UK, you can subscribe here. For those outside the UK, you can sign up here.