Who won the Kamala Harris vs Donald Trump presidential debate? How the US media covered it, from the NY Times to Fox News.
The debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump has sparked intense reactions across the media landscape, with most outlets declaring Harris the clear winner.
US presidential debate: Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris (AP)
US presidential debate: Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris (AP)
The New York Times reported how Harris effectively put Trump on the defensive from the start and maintained control throughout the debate. The contest marked a marked shift in the race since President Biden left the field, with Harris delivering a sharp and clear message while Trump appeared increasingly angry and defensive.
“Ms. Harris was often able to deliver a clear and unambiguous message. Mr. Trump appeared angry and defensive,” the release said.
“But despite several flashpoints, there appears to be no major setback that could fundamentally change the dynamics of the extremely close election in November. While Ms. Harris has tried to paint Mr. Trump as a friend of billionaires and big corporations that swallow up the middle class, Mr. Trump has portrayed Ms. Harris as a policy softie who he said was too liberal to lead the country.”
The Wall Street Journal reiterated this sentiment, noting that Harris has successfully prompted animated responses from Trump on a range of issues, including his legal problems. The debate marked a marked departure from Trump’s previous confrontations with Biden, when moderators vigorously pushed back against his falsehoods.
The publication called the vice president the clear winner, with the headline “Harris outshines Trump in intense presidential debate.”
USA Today reported that Harris’ performance was strong, forcing Trump to go on the defensive. “Donald Trump trounced 2024 presidential nominee Joe Biden in the last debate, but the Republican found himself on Tuesday night in a position to take on his new Democratic opponent.” Harris found herself striking back several times against her challenger, Kamala Harris.”
MSNBC did not mince words and declared the debate an easy win for Harris. The network praised her for maintaining a calm and presidential demeanor, in contrast to Trump’s frustration. “Throughout Tuesday’s debate, the vice president appeared balanced, competent and presidential — without comparing herself to the clearly frustrated former president with whom she shared a stage. Harris repeatedly provoked Donald Trump, often with ease.
The focus on CNN was on Harris’ direct challenge to Trump. The gist of the debate came from her statement, “You’re not running against Joe Biden. You’re running against me.” Harris’ optimistic outlook came as Trump struggled to hold his own again.
Even Fox News, which is more sympathetic to Trump, believed Harris won the debate. They noted that as the debate progressed, Trump appeared increasingly harsh and divisive, while Harris became more confident, which was strengthened by the moderators’ fact-checking of Trump’s statements. “The vice president also had some help. He was aided and abetted by two ABC News moderators who felt the need to fact-check everything the former president said.
