Vice President Kamala Harris was criticized on social media for making exaggerated facial expressions during Tuesday's ABC News presidential debate with former President Trump.
Harris's smirk was seen on split screen at various times as Trump answered questions from the debate moderator. Her and Trump's microphones were muted when their opponents were given time to speak — a rule the Harris campaign tried to change — so Harris could express her disdain for the Republican candidate with just facial gestures.
At times, Harris was seen on camera exaggeratingly rolling her eyes, furrowing her brow or squinting as her opponent spoke, and she also laughed and appeared to mock Trump's responses with exaggerated smiles.
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Her varied expressions were immediately mocked by social media users, with some saying she was nervous or uncomfortable on stage, while others slammed her as rehearsed and “pathetic”.
“Instead of answering questions, Kamala Harris goes through an obviously rehearsed routine and makes exaggerated, rehearsed facial expressions as Trump speaks. She comes across as fake and weak,” New York Post columnist Miranda Devine wrote on X.
“On substance, Harris wins. On appearance, Harris hurts herself. #Debate2024,” pollster Frank Luntz wrote.
“Kamala Harris's exaggerated facial expressions during the debate were pathetic. They conveyed insincerity and nervousness,” said Ryan Saavedra, a senior reporter at The Daily Wire.
“So far Harris has much more facial expressions than Trump in this split screen. I'm curious to see how that resonates with voters,” Fox News congressional correspondent Aisha Husney posted.
“Kamala Harris has been over-coached on how to make facial expressions because her microphone is muted. It's uncomfortable and weird,” conservative writer Carmine Sabia said.
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Journalist Ian Miles Chong wrote, “Kamala Harris should have taken more acting classes. Her facial expressions just don't hide the anxiety very well.”
“The split screen of #Debate2024 is currently damaging Kamala Harris because of her facial expressions. I can't believe her debate coaches didn't focus on that,” conservative media personality Ford O'Connell agreed.
“My kids have the same look on their face as Kamala Harris when they're in trouble,” quipped Tudor Dixon, a former Michigan gubernatorial candidate.
“All Harris has to offer tonight is a TikTok-worthy smug face and a friendly host. All of her answers are cookie-cutter and fake,” posted Kristan Hawkins, executive director of the National Student Life Alliance and Student Life Action Alliance.
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Harris displayed many of the same facial expressions that made headlines during the 2020 vice presidential debate against Mike Pence.
