Harris’ smirk was repeatedly captured on the split screen during Trump’s responses to questions from the debate moderators. Both candidates’ microphones were muted when the other was given time to speak—a rule that the Harris campaign had previously tried to change. This left Harris with only her facial gestures to express her reactions to the GOP nominee.
Throughout the debate, Harris was often caught on camera dramatically rolling her eyes, furrowing her brow, or squinting at Trump while he spoke. At other times, she laughed or appeared to mock Trump’s answers with exaggerated smiles.
Her facial expressions quickly became a topic of discussion on social media, with some users interpreting them as signs of her nerves and discomfort on stage, while others criticized them as rehearsed and “pathetic.”
