Several Republican officials, donors, and advisers expressed disappointment in Donald Trump’s debate performance against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, although Trump himself praised his own performance as one of his best, Reuters reports.
Harris, 59, aggressively challenged Trump, 78, on his fitness for office and legal troubles, putting him on the defensive. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham described the debate as a “missed opportunity,” criticizing Trump for failing to stay focused and highlight his record. Chris Christie, a former Trump ally who ran against him for the 2024 Republican nomination, said Trump was unprepared, while Harris was well-prepared.
The debate drew significant viewership, with 67.1 million TV viewers. However, some of Trump’s advisers doubted the debate would significantly impact polling. Meanwhile, Harris’ campaign challenged Trump to a second debate in October, but opinions were divided on whether Trump should participate again.
