The familiar Trump appeared on stage, as did Prosecutor Harris.

Despite receiving ample advice on how to engage in the debate – namely to focus on Vice President Kamala Harris’s policies rather than resort to personal attacks – Donald Trump reverted to his usual debate style in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. He threw insults, shouted into the microphone, and spent more time defending his record than questioning hers.

Harris maintained an assertive stance for most of the debate, which was hosted by ABC News, showcasing her prosecutorial background from California. She skillfully redirected many discussions away from her own policy inconsistencies and the Biden administration’s record, instead focusing on Trump and his past.

Time and again, Trump responded to her provocations regarding the size of his rallies, his felony conviction, his management of the COVID-19 crisis, and his standing with global leaders.

“You were fired by 81 million people,” she asserted, implying that his refusal to accept his 2020 election loss suggests a troubling lack of “temperament or the ability to discern fact.”

In return, Trump praised Hungarian leader Viktor Orban and slammed President Biden, calling him a “weak, pathetic man.” He shouted, “I’ll let you in on a secret. He hates her. He can’t stand her.”

“You’re not up against Joe Biden,” she shot back when he brought Biden up again. “You’re up against me.”

A pivotal moment in the election?

Journalists often rush to label every event as a critical turning point, which is not always accurate.

However, the debate on Tuesday was undoubtedly significant, particularly for Harris. As Election Day approaches, this 105-minute debate might prove to be one of the most essential moments of the 2024 general election.

With both candidates nearly neck-and-neck in pivotal battleground states, they stood alongside each other for the first time during the campaign, showcasing their contrasting policies, personalities, and priorities.

Trump landed several notable points, frequently returning to immigration, a sensitive topic for the Biden administration and especially for Harris. He painted a picture of a world in chaos, referencing conflicts in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine. He addressed concerns around inflation and criticized Harris for her past stance on fracking, particularly relevant in Pennsylvania.

Yet, he devoted considerable time to topics unlikely to benefit his campaign, including a bizarre and unfounded rumor about Haitian immigrants in Ohio allegedly kidnapping pets. Moderator David Muir pointed out that local authorities found no evidence supporting that claim.

Harris chose to dismiss some of Trump’s remarks, which included calling her “a Marxist.”

Instead, she used her debate time to target Trump and focus on issues likely to favor her politically. She blamed him for the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, which impacted abortion rights nationwide. She presented her strategy to assist middle-class Americans, including support for small business owners and parents struggling with childcare costs, although she did not provide any new policy specifics.

“What I represent is a new generation of leadership for our nation,” she stated. “Let’s move forward and turn the page.”

More poised than Biden or Clinton

This debate marked a stark contrast to the previous one.

In the June debate, Biden struggled with a weak performance that put his candidacy in jeopardy, and by the second debate on Tuesday night, he had stepped back from the race.

This time, as they took the stage, Harris approached Trump, extended her hand, and introduced herself, even though he presumably knew who she was since they had never previously met.

Standing just six feet apart at their podiums, she appeared to observe him intently as he spoke, frequently rolling her eyes, smiling, and laughing, seemingly dismissing his comments as ridiculous.

Trump mostly stared straight ahead with a stern expression.

Harris displayed more energy and confidence compared to Biden’s performance in June. In fact, she appeared much more assured than Biden throughout the debate.

In comparison to Hillary Clinton’s three debates in 2016, the individual faced off against Trump in two debates during 2020, and they both had more debate experience than her.

After the debate, Trump visited the media spin room, where he expressed his thoughts about his performance to the reporters present. He shared on his social media platform, “I believed that was my best debate EVER, especially since it felt like it was THREE AGAINST ONE!” He also criticized the moderators, claiming they were partial towards him.

At the same time, the Harris campaign issued their own statement. “Vice President Harris is prepared for the upcoming second debate in October,” campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon commented. “Is Donald Trump ready?”