Harris and Trump’s facial expressions stole the debate

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

Harris, in particular, leaned toward nonverbal communication, aware that her every reaction was broadcast to the world, “speaking” to the audience even as Trump ostensibly had the floor. The networks showed a split screen of both candidates for most of the debate.

The topic took over social media by Wednesday.

This was Trump’s face just as Kamala Harris said people were leaving his rallies out of boredom pic.twitter.com/4P3hdpxATY

— Conspiratorial Templates (@mynamehear) September 11, 2024

The debate can be summed up in facial expressions. pic.twitter.com/omati470Ck

— Maggie Hennefeld (@magshenny) September 11, 2024

Kamala blinked the 10 most powerful blinks in American history pic.twitter.com/HKUu0ejQW5

— Joey Nolfi (@joeynolfi) September 11, 2024

Kamala serves the FACE Harris Trump debate #Debate2024 pic.twitter.com/3nXwYgYC21

— Stuart Brazell (@stuartbrazell) September 11, 2024

Trump looks like it’s his first night with a human face and tests what he can do every time Harris speaks pic.twitter.com/y1t39NwANz

— Janel Comeau (@VeryBadLlama) September 11, 2024

At various times, she seemed amused or confused by whatever Trump was saying, as if he was saying without words that he was lying. A few times he dramatically put his fingers under his chin, eyes wide, head tilted. Sometimes he laughed.

Trump sometimes frowned, sometimes smiled briefly. His eyes flashed with anger or annoyance, maybe even boredom at times. He rarely looked at Harris as she spoke, instead turning his face forward to the cameras or the ABC News anchors.

When the candidates spoke, Trump and Harris both gestured with their hands, mannerisms that are already familiar to Americans who have spent a lot of time watching them.