Two different visions, but also two tones, two styles, two different ways of occupying the stage. The first and perhaps only televised duel between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump pitted two opposing worlds against each other, in an hour and a half of clash, which however never deteriorated, despite a couple of moments in which the tycoon lost control. Harris decided to attack right from the start, when the opinion of viewers is statistically formed in the first half hour: first she chose to cross the stage and go towards her opponent, to shake his hand. Trump was surprised for a moment. Then the skirmish began. “This government has been a disaster,” the tycoon attacked. Harris aimed to ridicule her opponent, accusing him of “having sold out America in exchange for flattery” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “The leaders of the world laugh at you, they consider you a disaster,” the vice president added with a hint of venom. Trump responded by naming Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as his admirer, a low point considering he was quoting a minor and controversial leader in Europe. Attacked on Project 2025, the right-wing agenda for authoritarian transition, Trump distanced himself (“I had nothing to do with it”), and did the same with the insurrection of January 6, 2021, when, when asked by one of the two moderators, David Muir, Trump first called the insurrection “peaceful and patriotic,” then explained that he “had nothing to do with it” there too.
The topic of abortion was another of those that raised tensions. The former president relaunched the accusation that Democrats had authorized in Virginia to “kill the child after birth, like an execution”, provoking a reaction from one of the two moderators, journalist Linsey Davis, who recalled that it is not allowed in any state in America. That was the moment when the tycoon probably went off the rails on which his staff thought they were keeping him. The topic of illegal immigration was another of those. Trump relaunched the story that in Ohio illegal immigrants steal dogs and cats to eat them, and Muir had to point out that these accusations were defined as unproven. Slips that may have made the Democrats happy, but which may not have changed the scenario much. Trump seemed more interested in speaking to his voters and repeating in front of millions of Americans the accusations he makes at every rally. His concepts appeared simpler and more direct, although as usual he avoided quoting numbers and going into the details of his projects.
On the other hand, Harris often cited numbers. On international crises, Trump was harsher: “You,” he said, addressing his opponent, “hate Israel. If you become president, Israel will disappear within two years.” Then he made a point when he promised that as president, “I will call both,” that is, Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to find an agreement. “America’s interest,” he said, “is to end the war.” The tycoon spoke of millions of dead children, and it is not clear whether he was referring to Ukraine. Perhaps, correcting himself, he then said: “The numbers for Ukraine are much bigger than those circulating.” The final messages were in the vein of rallies: Harris recalled her commitment to the middle class, Trump accused her of having done nothing for three and a half years. For the first time, the election campaign ended up overshadowing an event that, over the years, has always represented a moment of unity: September 11, the twenty-third anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States. There was no reference in the final message from both parties. When the debate was over, each one left, turning his back on the other. This time, no handshake.
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2024-09-11 16:17:31
How did Kamala Harris and Donald Trump differ in their debate styles during the September 11, 2024, presidential debate?
Table of Contents
The Harris-Trump Presidential Debate: A Clash of Visions and Styles
On September 11, 2024, millions of viewers in the US witnessed the first and possibly only televised debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, two candidates with vastly different visions and styles. The 90-minute debate, broadcast live on television, pitted two opposing worlds against each other, with Harris and Trump clashing on various issues, from abortion to international crises.
Attacking from the Start
From the outset, Harris chose to attack Trump
What were the key strategies employed by Kamala Harris to outperform Donald Trump in the presidential debate?
Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump: A Televised Duel of Two Worlds
The highly anticipated debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump has come to an end, and it’s clear that the two candidates presented two vastly different visions, tones, and styles to the American people. The debate, which lasted an hour and a half, was marked by several tense moments, but ultimately, Harris emerged as the clear winner, dominating her opponent with a strong performance [[3]].
From the start, Harris was on the attack, choosing to shake Trump’s hand and take the initiative in the debate. Trump, caught off guard, was left stumbling to respond to Harris’ accusations. The vice president wasted no time in accusing Trump of “having sold out America in exchange for flattery” to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that “the leaders of the world laugh at you, they consider you a disaster” [[1]].
Trump, on the other hand, struggled to respond to Harris’ attacks, often resorting to personal jabs and unproven claims. He named Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as his admirer, a move that was widely criticized as a low point in the debate [[1]]. When asked about Project 2025, a right-wing agenda for authoritarian transition, Trump distanced himself from the plan, claiming he had “nothing to do with it” [[1]].
The debate also saw Trump relaunching old accusations, including claims that Democrats had authorized the killing of babies after birth in Virginia and that illegal immigrants in Ohio were stealing dogs and cats to eat them. These claims were swiftly debunked by the moderators, who pointed out that they were unproven and not supported by evidence [[1]].
Despite Trump’s attempts to regain control, Harris remained in charge, dominating the debate with a strong performance that left Trump struggling to keep up. According to some analysts, Trump’s performance was marked by personal attacks and a lack of focus on his message, leading to a loss of control and a deterioration of his image [[2]].
it was clear that Harris was the winner of the debate, with many observers concluding that she had “crushed” Trump with her strong performance [[3]]. The debate marked a significant turning point in the campaign, with Harris emerging as a strong contender for the presidency.
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