Who won the presidential debate? Experts reveal whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris came out on top after their first head-to-head matchup
The first head-to-head confrontation between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris was full of tense moments and colorful twists.
Harris appeared to get on the former president’s nerves by bringing up the size of his presidential rallies and the many lawsuits against him.
In response, Trump slammed Harris for letting millions of illegal immigrants who “eat cats and dogs” into the country and claimed that President Joe Biden “actually hates” her.
During the debate, the vice president shook her head and smiled repeatedly, at one point even saying “that’s not true” when Trump called her a “Marxist.”
Meanwhile, Trump frowned and looked down, occasionally interrupting her during the two minutes she was allotted to respond, as he spent most of the debate on the defensive.
Harris appeared to get under the former president’s skin by raising the size of his presidential rallies and attacking the numerous lawsuits against him.
Critics also criticized the ABC News hosts, who hosted the debate, for being “biased” for continuing to fact-check Trump while Harris got away with her “lies.”
DailyMail.com analyses the analysis of leading political experts who reveal the candidate who emerged victorious after the dramatic debate:
David Litt: Kamala Harris beat Trump
David Litt, former President Obama’s chief speechwriter, told DailyMail.com that Democrats are cheering tonight.
“Democrats like me were upset after Trump beat Biden in the first debate. Tonight, we celebrate.”
‘Vice President Harris was poised, calm, and laid out a clear policy vision that resonated with undecided voters. Trump had one job: to connect Harris to Biden’s unpopular policies, and he apparently forgot the assignment.’
He commented on the way Trump “falls into the trap again and again,” resulting in “twaddle and whiny answers that made him appear confused and totally unfit to lead.”
“If Donald Trump were a Democrat and not the leader of a personality cult, his party would consider replacing him as the nominee after his disastrous performance in this debate.”
Jonathan Bronitsky: Both candidates showed up
Bronitsky, a former chief speechwriter for Trump Attorney General Bill Barr and co-founder and CEO of ATHOS, said Harris did better than expected.
“Both candidates showed up for the job,” he told DailyMail.com.
“Trump was disciplined and stuck to the issues,” former speechwriter Bill Barr told DaliyMail.com
“Trump was disciplined and stuck to the issues. After a rocky start, Harris dispelled the notion that she is utterly incapable of delivering a coherent, comprehensive argument without an autocue.”
Bronitsky called it surprising that Harris was the candidate who “interrupted and threw little jabs.”
“She made ad hominem attacks through an intermediary, such as her mysterious, unnamed ‘military leaders’ calling Trump a ‘disgrace,’” he continued.
But he said Trump’s sharp wit had more “standout” moments that helped him beat the VP.
“He was to the point, passionate and genuinely angry about the country’s decline over the past four years. His frustration is surely shared by countless fellow citizens.”
Joel Payne: That was a Trump ‘butt kick’
Democratic strategist Joel Payne declared Harris a landslide winner.
“That was a real punishment,” Payne told DailyMail.com. “Harris won that debate by three touchdowns.”
Trump had more ‘notable’ moments with his ‘cracker-barrel’ humor and won over the VP, expert said
“Winning debates doesn’t win elections, but for the American people who want to know more about Kamala Harris, she has done a very important job of educating the public about herself and her views.”
Payne also noted that Trump took “every bait” from the vice president.
“Trump was disheveled and distraught and took every bait she threw at him.”
Max Burns: Not great for Trump’s campaign
MSNBC contributor and Democratic strategist Max Burns told DailyMail.com that Trump’s campaign is in trouble after the debate.
“Tonight’s debate will be remembered for one thing: Donald Trump yelling that Haitians are eating America’s cats. That is not the memory the Trump campaign wants in the minds of voters as early voting begins.”
Alfredo Ortiz: Harris tries to escape her record
The leader of the conservative advocacy group Job Creators Network said the debate showed a “clear contrast” between Trump and Harris.
MSNBC contributor and Democratic strategist Max Burns told DailyMail.com that Trump’s campaign is in trouble after the debate
He criticized the vice president for going into the debate with “nothing but clichéd arguments.”
“Kamala dodged and evaded her failed liberal record, pivoting from one side to the other on countless key issues. Kamala can run from her record, but she can’t run from its results.”
During the debate, Trump made the unsubstantiated claim that illegal immigrants in Ohio are “eating cats and dogs.”
“They’re eating the pets of the people who live there,” he said. “And this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a disgrace… If she becomes president… we’re going to end up like Venezuela on steroids.”
Harris simply responded with a laugh, “I mean, what an extreme.”
Jessica Anderson: The ‘New Kamala’ Refuses to Be Honest
The leader of the conservative advocacy group Job Creators Network said the debate presented a “clear contrast” between Trump and Harris
Jessica Anderson, president of the conservative Sentinel Action Fund, told DailyMail.com that Kamala Harris was trying to “rewrite history with her support for the most radical policies.”
She cited the border and immigration, fracking, energy and Bidenomics as examples.
“It’s clear she still refuses to be honest with the country about where she stands,” Anderson continued, saying she is “not fooling the voters.”
“Four more years of Kamala with Senate approval would create more chaos and destruction that American families cannot afford.”