As the September 10 presidential debate approaches, Vice President Kamala Harris is reportedly honing her strategy with a focus on unsettling former President Donald Trump. Harris’ team sees this debate as a pivotal moment to highlight the stark contrast between her and Trump, aiming to remind voters of the turmoil during his presidency, according to sources close to the vice president.
One key area Harris is expected to target is Trump’s influence on Republicans’ decision to withdraw from a bipartisan border bill in February. Additionally, Harris intends to showcase how her leadership would prioritize the needs of everyday Americans while maintaining composure in the face of expected personal attacks from Trump.
A source close to Harris emphasized the importance of her remaining unshaken during the debate, noting that her authenticity is a crucial part of her appeal. The prime-time debate, scheduled for September 10 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, will be hosted by ABC and marks the first formal meeting between Harris and Trump.
In preparation, Harris has been working closely with a small group of advisers, participating in at least two mock debates last month, as reported by The New York Times. Her debate opponent in these practice sessions is Philippe Reines, who has portrayed Trump in previous debate preparations, including for Hillary Clinton in 2016. Reines goes to great lengths to embody Trump, complete with an oversized suit, shoes with a three-inch lift, and a long tie.
Meanwhile, Trump’s team claims he doesn’t need traditional debate preparation. According to his national press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s extensive experience in debates and frequent interactions with the press have already prepared him for any situation. “President Trump has proven to be one of the best debaters in political history as evidenced by his knockout blow to Joe Biden,” Leavitt stated.
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Trump himself downplayed his preparation efforts, telling reporters last month that he wasn’t dedicating much time to debate prep. “I’m not, really, I’m not. I’m not spending a lot of time on it,” he said in a clip aired by CNN. “I think my whole life, I’ve been preparing for a debate.”
However, it was reported that Trump enlisted former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to play Harris during at least one practice session at Mar-a-Lago. Gabbard, who left the Democratic Party in 2022, was chosen in part due to her memorable critique of Harris during a 2019 primary debate. While Gabbard may offer insights on how to counter Harris, it remains uncertain whether Trump will curb his often controversial debate tactics.
Trump’s history of unpredictable behavior during debates is well-documented. In the 2016 election, he famously loomed behind Hillary Clinton on stage, a move that she later described as making her “skin crawl.” He also coined the divisive phrase “bad hombres” during that debate, which became a flashpoint for criticism.
Other memorable moments from Trump’s debate history include his contentious interactions with moderator Megyn Kelly, where he implied her tough questioning was due to menstruation, and his attempts to diminish Jeb Bush, culminating in Trump silencing Bush and suggesting that the booing audience was full of Bush family donors.
As the debate date draws near, all eyes will be on how Harris navigates her encounter with Trump, and whether she can effectively disrupt his usual tactics.
