How the US media reacted to the debate between Mr. Trump and Ms. Harris

In the first and possibly only debate of the 2024 US presidential election campaign, which took place in Philadelphia on the evening of September 10 (local time), the two candidates of the Republican and Democratic Parties argued about many issues, notably immigration, Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza.

With the two candidates shown on a split screen, Americans clearly watched how Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump reacted to each other during the debate. Ms. Harris often turned towards her opponent and looked at Mr. Trump when he spoke, whereas the former President did not look at Ms. Harris when she spoke.

The heated clash in the race for the White House began with a handshake, but over 90 minutes of debate, the two candidates criticized each other as bad leaders who should not be elected.

People watch the debate between Mr. Trump and Ms. Harris on ABC News, September 10, 2024, from a location in West Hollywood, California. Photo: Getty Images

Mr. Trump has tried to portray Harris as a far-left candidate who would pursue policies like open borders, ban shale gas drilling and confiscate guns. He has also pushed to link her to President Joe Biden, portraying them as essentially the same type of politician .

Ms. Harris has countered the allegations with sharp arguments. Using her experience as a California prosecutor, she has criticized Mr. Trump for his past actions, especially his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Her strategy appears to have worked, as Mr. Trump has been on the defensive ever since.

Overall, Ms. Harris’s answers were considered more coherent and focused than Mr. Trump’s. It remains to be seen whether the debate performance will affect the overall race for the White House, but it certainly drew a backlash across the U.S. media.

The New York Times highlighted how Ms. Harris effectively put Mr. Trump on the defensive from the start, maintaining control throughout the debate. The exchange of words represented a significant shift in the race since President Biden announced his withdrawal. Ms. Harris delivered a sharp and clear message while Mr. Trump became increasingly angry and defensive.

"Ms. Harris was able to deliver a sharp and clear message for most of the debate. Mr. Trump, on the other hand, appeared angry and defensive," the publication stated.

“Despite the many high points, there seemed to be no knockout blow that could fundamentally change the dynamics of what will be an extremely tense election in November,” the New York Times wrote in its overall review of the debate.

How Ms. Harris and Mr. Trump reacted to each other during the debate, on the evening of September 10, 2024 (US time). Photo: Washington Post

The Wall Street Journal noted that Ms. Harris successfully “coaxed” Mr. Trump into giving passionate responses on a number of issues, including the former President’s legal troubles. The debate saw a marked difference from Mr. Trump’s previous confrontation with Mr. Biden.

USA Today described Harris' performance as strong, putting Trump on the defensive. In an analysis, the publication stated, "Donald Trump eliminated Joe Biden from the 2024 presidential race in the most recent debate, but the Republican candidate continued to take hits when facing off against his new Democratic opponent: Kamala Harris."

MSNBC praised Ms. Harris for maintaining a calm and presidential demeanor. "Throughout the debate, the Vice President appeared calm, presidential."

The Washington Post praised Ms. Harris's use of facial expressions during the debate. The American newspaper wrote: "Ms. Harris displayed more animated body language and reactions than Mr. Trump. She laughed and smiled — sometimes in disbelief — as Mr. Trump spoke and took notes. She shook her head when Mr. Trump made statements she considered false, put her hand on her chin as she listened to him, and sometimes squinted or frowned at him."

CNN zeroed in on Harris' direct challenge to Trump. The debate was summed up by Harris' statement: "You're not running against Joe Biden. You're running against me." Harris's confident approach stood out, leaving Trump struggling to regain his footing.

Even conservative channels like Fox News acknowledged that Ms. Harris prevailed and seemed to confuse Mr. Trump. The network noted that Mr. Trump became increasingly acerbic and divisive as the debate progressed, while Ms. Harris grew more confident.

Fox News has criticized two ABC News debate moderators, accusing them of supporting Ms. Harris by repeatedly "fact-checking" Mr. Trump's claims.

Minh Duc (According to Al Jazeera, Washington Post, Hindustan Times)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/cach-truyen-thong-my-phan-ung-voi-cuoc-tranh-luan-giua-ong-trump-va-ba-harris-204240911145751408.htm