One of the many things about which social media blew up during and following the 2024 presidential debate between former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris by ABC News on September 10 were the extremely exaggerated facial expressions that VP Harris made during the debate while Trump was speaking.

For reference, because of the split-screen way in which ABC News did the interview, VP Harris’s smirk could be seen right next to Trump’s face when it was his turn to answer questions, and so her exaggerated facial expressions were both highly visible and highly annoying to conservative watchers of the debate.

As background, both the microphones of Harris and Trump were muted when the other candidate was speaking, a rule that Team Harris originally wanted but then later tried to change, perhaps so she could do her “I am speaking” routine. Harris, then, had nothing but her contemptuous, grating facial expressions to use to express her displeasure with Trump.

So, as Trump gave his answers, which were often quite contrary to hers and calling hers out, Harris would make a grating expression for the camera. Whether dramatically rolling her eyes as he spoke, furrowing her brow in an exaggerated manner as he gave an answer with which she disagreed, or squinting at him to create the impression of baffled confusion at what he said. She also used exaggerated smiles throughout the debate to mock Trump’s comments.

Predictably, online commentators roasted Kamala with a vengeance over the exaggerated expressions. Amongst those doing so was Fox News Channel personality Miranda Devine, who said, “Kamala Harris is doing obviously rehearsed routines instead of answering questions. Then she does rehearsed and exaggerated facial expressions when Trump talks. She comes across as fake and weak.”

Similarly, conservative X personality Tudor Dixon wrote that Kamala was acting in the same childish expression as her kids. She said, “My kids make the same facial expressions Kamala Harris is making when they are in trouble.” Also critical was Ford O’Connell, another X personality, who wrote, “#Debate2024 split screen right now is hurting Kamala Harris because of her facial expressions can’t believe her debate coaches didn’t hone in on that.”

Similar to O’Connell was Malaysian X personality Ian Miles Cheong, who wrote that he saw the expressions as an attempt to hide her anxiety about the debate, which failed and instead betrayed that anxiety. He said, “Kamala Harris should’ve taken more acting classes. Her facial expressions betray only poorly veiled anxiety.”

Also chiming in on the matter was Carmine Sabia, a conservative pundit, who wrote, “Kamala Harris has been way over coached on doing facial expressions because of the muted mics. It is uncomfortable and weird. #Debate2024.” Similarly, Fox News reporter Aishah Hasnie wrote, “So far… HARRIS is making faces way more than TRUMP on this split screen. DK how that’s going to resonate with voters.”

Daily Wire reporter Ryan Saavedra wrote, “Kamala Harris’ overexaggerated facial expressions during this debate are pathetic. They convey a sense of dishonesty and nervousness.” Similarly, Frank Luntz wrote that Harris’ expressions hurt her, saying, “On content, Harris is winning. Visually, she’s hurting herself. #Debate2024”

Watch a clip of one of her expressions here:

On content, Harris is winning.
Visually, she’s hurting herself. #Debate2024pic.twitter.com/74jGI6VHbh

— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) September 11, 2024

Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video