Vice President Kamala Harris displayed a mix of reactions during her first debate against former President Donald Trump on Tuesday night, including laughing off several of his responses. The 59-year-old vice president appeared visibly reactive at various points during the debate, often flipping her head back and mouthing “Oh, come on” before bursting into laughter at Trump, 78.
One notable moment occurred when Trump suggested that migrants in Springfield, Ohio were “eating the dogs,” to which Harris responded by licking her lips and narrowing her eyes in apparent disbelief. Critics have long questioned whether Harris’ uproarious laughter is a genuine expression, with some even suggesting it would make her a poor pick for replacing President Biden if he were to retire.
The Democratic nominee employed her trademark laugh again when Trump accused her of being “a Marxist.” However, she became much more serious when Trump charged her with “destroying this country.” Harris pursed her lips and widened her eyes as she alternated between tilting her chin up and down in response to the accusation.
Another memorable moment came when Trump accused the vice president of being “the worst vice president in the history of our country,” prompting her eyebrows to shoot up about an inch. Throughout the debate, Harris vigorously shook her head at several points, such as when Trump boasted about NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s praise for his efforts to increase defense spending among alliance members.
In addition to shaking her head, Harris looked away whenever Trump bragged about his negotiation abilities. When the discussion turned to race and Trump’s recent claim that Harris had only recently identified as black, the vice president smiled through the former president’s explanation that he doesn’t care what she identifies as. Her eyes and chin perked up during Trump’s response before she accused him of trying “to use race to divide the American people.
In contrast to Harris’ animated reactions, Trump maintained a sternly serious demeanor throughout most of the high-stakes debate in Philadelphia, not laughing at any point during the evening.
