Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
For Harris and Trump, Facial Expressions Did Much of the Talking
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 months ago on
September 11, 2024

This combination of photos shows Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, left, and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during an ABC News presidential debate at the National Constitution Center, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP/Alex Brandon)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

WASHINGTON  — Kamala Harris and Donald Trump said as much with their faces as they did with their words during Tuesday’s debate.

With their microphones muted unless it was their turn to speak, according to the debate rules, body language took on outsized importance for Harris and Trump.

Harris in particular leaned into the nonverbal communication, keenly aware that her every reaction was being broadcast to the world, “speaking” to the audience even while Trump ostensibly had the floor. Networks showed a split screen with both candidates for most of the debate.

At various points she looked amused or befuddled by whatever Trump was saying, as if  wordlessly saying he was lying. A few times she dramatically put her fingers under her chin, eyes wide, head tilted. Other times she laughed.

Trump sometimes scowled, sometimes smiled curtly. His eyes flashed anger or annoyance, perhaps even boredom at times. He rarely looked at Harris while she spoke, instead pointing his face forward toward the cameras or ABC News moderators.

When the candidates did have the floor, Trump and Harris both gesticulated with their hands, mannerisms that are by now familiar to Americans who’ve spent a lot of time watching them.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Spring Break Prices Hit Record High – These Affordable Destinations Are Trending

DON'T MISS

Then and Now: How Republican Senators Have Shifted Tone on Russia and Ukraine

DON'T MISS

Pope Francis in Critical Condition After Long Respiratory Crisis

DON'T MISS

Musk Gives All Federal Workers 48 Hours to Explain What They Did Last Week

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Suspends 2 Players, Removes Another Amid Gambling Investigation

DON'T MISS

Israel Delays Release of Palestinian Prisoners, Citing ‘Degrading’ Hostage Handovers

DON'T MISS

Officer Killed After Gunman Took Hostages at Pennsylvania Hospital

DON'T MISS

Kash Patel Plans to Move Up to 1,500 Workers Out of Washington

DON'T MISS

Fired Employees Fear Beloved Yosemite National Park Will Lose Its Luster

DON'T MISS

US and Ukraine Nearing Rare Earths Deal That Would Tighten Relationship

UP NEXT

Then and Now: How Republican Senators Have Shifted Tone on Russia and Ukraine

UP NEXT

Pope Francis in Critical Condition After Long Respiratory Crisis

UP NEXT

Musk Gives All Federal Workers 48 Hours to Explain What They Did Last Week

UP NEXT

Fresno State Suspends 2 Players, Removes Another Amid Gambling Investigation

UP NEXT

Israel Delays Release of Palestinian Prisoners, Citing ‘Degrading’ Hostage Handovers

UP NEXT

Officer Killed After Gunman Took Hostages at Pennsylvania Hospital

UP NEXT

Kash Patel Plans to Move Up to 1,500 Workers Out of Washington

UP NEXT

Fired Employees Fear Beloved Yosemite National Park Will Lose Its Luster

UP NEXT

US and Ukraine Nearing Rare Earths Deal That Would Tighten Relationship

UP NEXT

Trump Fires Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Two Other Military Officers

Musk Gives All Federal Workers 48 Hours to Explain What They Did Last Week

1 day ago

Fresno State Suspends 2 Players, Removes Another Amid Gambling Investigation

1 day ago

Israel Delays Release of Palestinian Prisoners, Citing ‘Degrading’ Hostage Handovers

1 day ago

Officer Killed After Gunman Took Hostages at Pennsylvania Hospital

1 day ago

Kash Patel Plans to Move Up to 1,500 Workers Out of Washington

1 day ago

Fired Employees Fear Beloved Yosemite National Park Will Lose Its Luster

1 day ago

US and Ukraine Nearing Rare Earths Deal That Would Tighten Relationship

1 day ago

Trump Fires Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Two Other Military Officers

1 day ago

Less Is More: 5 Ingredient Dinners Are Easier Than You Think

1 day ago

Trump-Putin Summit Preparations Are Underway, Russia Says

1 day ago

Spring Break Prices Hit Record High – These Affordable Destinations Are Trending

Spring break 2025 is set to be the most expensive on record, with trip budgets up an average of 26%, according to Yahoo Finance. The beach s...

13 hours ago

13 hours ago

Spring Break Prices Hit Record High – These Affordable Destinations Are Trending

15 hours ago

Then and Now: How Republican Senators Have Shifted Tone on Russia and Ukraine

1 day ago

Pope Francis in Critical Condition After Long Respiratory Crisis

1 day ago

Musk Gives All Federal Workers 48 Hours to Explain What They Did Last Week

1 day ago

Fresno State Suspends 2 Players, Removes Another Amid Gambling Investigation

1 day ago

Israel Delays Release of Palestinian Prisoners, Citing ‘Degrading’ Hostage Handovers

1 day ago

Officer Killed After Gunman Took Hostages at Pennsylvania Hospital

1 day ago

Kash Patel Plans to Move Up to 1,500 Workers Out of Washington

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend