Who won the Harris-Trump presidential debate?

In Philadelphia on a Tuesday night, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced off in their first presidential debate. Although they greeted each other with a handshake, it was evident that they did not share a friendly rapport. The debate unfolded over a tense 90 minutes, during which Harris frequently challenged Trump with pointed remarks that seemed to unsettle him. She made personal attacks regarding the size of his rally crowds, his behavior during the Capitol riot, and the former officials from his administration who have since become vocal critics of his campaign. These comments consistently put Trump on the defensive, forcing him to address issues he would rather avoid. Harris's strategy was clear: she aimed to provoke Trump into lengthy justifications of his past actions and statements. At times, he raised his voice and shook his head in frustration. During an early question about immigration, Harris suggested that people should attend a Trump rally because they were revealing. She remarked, 'People start leaving the rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom. ' This jab visibly rattled Trump, who then diverted much of his response to defending the size of his rallies and belittling Harris's attendance. He even went on a tangent about a debunked story claiming that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were abducting and consuming their neighbors' pets. In the world of debates, success often hinges on which candidate can best leverage their strengths while deflecting attention from their weaknesses. On this occasion, the balance seemed to tip in favor of Harris. Her approach of putting Trump on the defensive was evident early on, particularly when the discussion turned to the economy and abortion. Public opinion polls indicate that many Americans are dissatisfied with how the Biden administration, of which Harris is a significant part, has managed inflation and economic issues. Harris skillfully redirected the conversation to Trump's proposed tariffs, labeling them a 'Trump sales tax,' and brought up Project 2025, a controversial independent conservative plan for a future Republican administration. Trump, as he has done previously, distanced himself from this project while defending his tariff strategy, noting that the Biden administration has maintained many of the tariffs from his first term. While these were valid points, they prevented him from effectively attacking Harris on inflation and consumer prices. When the topic shifted to abortion, Trump defended his stance by claiming that Americans across the political spectrum wanted Roe v. Wade protections overturned by the Supreme Court, a statement that polling does not support. His response was at times unclear and meandering. In contrast, Harris seized the opportunity to make a heartfelt appeal to families who have faced severe pregnancy complications and have been unable to access abortion care in states that have enacted bans. She referred to these as 'Trump abortion bans' and concluded with, 'It’s insulting to the women of America. ' This was a carefully crafted message in an area where she holds a significant advantage over Trump. As the debate progressed, Harris consistently put Trump on the defensive with her sharp comments, which he felt compelled to address rather than ignore. At one point, she was questioned about her previous liberal positions on issues like oil shale fracking, which she had since abandoned. Her persistent probing continued, and she concluded her response by stating that she did not accept financial help from her wealthy father. Trump, instead of attacking her for her changing views, responded by discussing the 'tiny fraction' of money he received from his father. On the topic of the Afghanistan withdrawal, a weak point for Harris, she shifted the conversation to Trump's negotiations with Taliban officials and his invitation to them at Camp David. This pattern of Harris putting Trump on the defensive proved to be highly effective throughout the evening. After the debate, some Republicans expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that the moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis, showed favoritism towards Harris. Both moderators pushed back against Trump and fact-checked his statements on several occasions. Ultimately, it was Trump's responses and his eagerness to engage with Harris's provocations that became the focal point of the evening. This dynamic was evident in the expressions of both candidates; while Harris maintained a look of bemusement or incredulity when Trump spoke, he mostly scowled. Until this point, the Harris campaign had been somewhat reserved about whether she would agree to participate in another debate. However, immediately after this one concluded, they called for a second presidential debate before November. This quick response suggests that the Democrats felt confident about Harris's performance on Tuesday night.