Kamala Harris' facial expressions communicated a lot to the viewing audience, as mics were muted, during her first debate with Donald Trump on Tuesday.
During their first debate, the vice president reacted in real time to the former president's attacks, false claims, and other remarks — at times, suggesting more than words. Harris was often seen shaking her head, laughing, or even donning a confused expression, especially as the debate largely muted the candidates' microphones when they were not speaking. The split-screen broadcast of much the debate framed this dynamic between Harris' reactions to Trump throughout the 90-plus minutes of debate.
Facial expressions have been a part of Harris' debate strategy. During the 2020 vice presidential debate, when Harris sparred against then-Vice President Mike Pence, Harris' eyebrow raises when Pence spoke were notably parodied on "Saturday Night Live." After the debate, Harris' facial expressions also inspired several memes online.
Similarly, Trump could also be seen shaking his head and pursing his lips as Harris spoke, though his reactions were not as pointed as the vice president's.
