Former President Donald Trump defended his performance in a debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming he had done a “great job,” despite ongoing complaints about the moderators being unfair. The debate, held in Philadelphia and moderated by ABC News’ David Muir and Linsey Davis on September 10, marked the first public face-off between the two candidates ahead of the November election.
Speaking Wednesday during a visit to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Trump expressed uncertainty about participating in future debates, citing what he viewed as a biased experience.
“When you win, you don’t really necessarily have to do it a second time, so we’ll see,” Trump, 78, told reporters, acknowledging that his future participation was still undecided.
He further elaborated on his frustration with the moderators during an appearance on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends,” calling the situation “three-on-one” and accusing the moderators of favoring Harris. “I thought I did a great job,” Trump insisted, “It was a rigged deal, as I assumed it would be.”
According to Trump, the moderators fact-checked him multiple times while allowing Harris, 59, to speak unchecked. He pointed out that at least “six or seven times she told an outright lie” that was not corrected by the moderators. He added, “It was a three-on-one — that’s OK, I’ve had worse odds before, but never so obvious.” Trump criticized the network’s coverage, saying, “They’re dishonest. I think ABC took a big hit last night … They ought to take away their license for the way they did that.”
Despite Trump’s claims of a successful debate performance, several Republicans expressed concerns over how the former president handled the face-off. According to Reuters, many within Trump’s own party, including key donors and advisers, believed Harris emerged victorious.
A CNN instant poll showed that Harris won the debate 63%-37% among those who watched the debate and a YouGov poll showed her winning 54-31 among registered voters who watched at least some of the debate; 14% were undecided.
Former Governor Chris Christie, a former Trump ally, said the former president’s debate preparation team should be “fired”
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham echoed those sentiments, describing Trump’s performance as a “missed opportunity.” Graham highlighted that Trump failed to stay on message and missed critical chances to effectively challenge Harris on her record. The debate, which was watched by over 67 million viewers, left many Republicans questioning whether Trump should participate in a second debate. Graham added, “A debate like that could decide the race, and we didn’t get it right this time.”
Trump’s reluctance to participate in another debate stems from his belief that Harris is seeking a rematch because “the loser always asks for a rematch.” He said, “I won the debate … I don’t know if I want to do another debate,” suggesting that he might sit out any future events.
For her part, Harris appeared poised and well-prepared, managing to deflect potentially damaging questions about her record and policies. The debate served as an opportunity for Harris to distance herself from previous missteps and solidify her position as a formidable candidate. Many Democrats praised her performance, contrasting it with President Biden’s previous debate appearance, which left many Democrats worried about the party’s chances in November.
The question now remains whether Trump will choose to participate in a second debate. While Fox News and NBC have offered to host future debates, Trump has indicated he may be less inclined to do so, stating, “I’d be less inclined … because we had a great night.” However, the Harris campaign has already issued a challenge for a rematch, signaling that the Democratic team is ready for another showdown.