close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

A look back at Trump’s previous debates
news

A look back at Trump’s previous debates

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are set to face off in their first presidential debate, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Harris has wiped out Trump’s comfortable lead in the polls, creating a close election with less than two months to go.

The highly anticipated showdown will be the first time Trump and Harris have met in person, just 51 days after President Biden withdrew from the 2024 race and 75 days after his disastrous debate performance.

As Trump enters his seventh general election debate, a record, we discuss what to expect from tomorrow’s debate, as well as his previous appearances.

THE MANY FACES OF DONALD TRUMP FROM PREVIOUS PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES

Trump and Harris split

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris face off in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. (Getty Images)

Trump and Harris to debate on September 10

While Tuesday’s debate is the second of the 2024 campaign season, it will be the first time the current nominees will face off. The 90-minute, audience-free debate will take place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

While Harris is holed up in Pittsburgh, Trump has foregone traditional debate preparation. Trump has, however, hired former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to help him hone his skills. Gabbard, who recently endorsed Trump, had her own famous moment on the debate stage when she attacked Harris over her record as California’s district attorney in 2020.

TULSI GABBARD GIVES UPDATE ON TRUMP’S DEBATE PREPARATION: ‘HE KNOWS THE PROBLEMS’

Trump is expected to focus on inflation and immigration, two of the top issues in the 2024 race. Trump’s campaign has linked Harris to some of Biden’s weaker areas, a strategy he is expected to use in the debate. Harris is expected to target abortion rights, which are tied to inflation at 14%, as the second-biggest issue in the race. Overturning Roe v. Wade has emerged as one of Trump’s biggest political vulnerabilities.

Harris at Georgia campaign event

Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally at Enmarket Arena on August 29, 2024 in Savannah, Georgia. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump, Biden debate on June 27

The lone 2024 debate between Biden and Trump marked the first time a sitting president and a former president ever debated each other. It may also be the most consequential debate in history, as it ultimately led to Biden dropping his 2024 candidacy.

During the debate, the president at times struggled to mount a coherent defense or finish his sentences. As Biden wrapped up an argument about his record on border security, Trump said, “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said.”

FIRST TRUMP-BIDEN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE OF 2024: MAJOR CLASHES OVER ISSUES FROM THE BORDER TO UKRAINE

it's a race for margin of error between Vice President Harris and former President Trump

Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden arrive at a campaign event at IBEW Local Union House #5 in Pittsburgh on Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2024. (AP photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

The debate in Atlanta where Trump and Biden clashed over abortion, immigration, foreign policy and inflation drew 51.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. At the time, Real Clear Politics had Trump ahead of Biden by 1.5 points.

Trump, Biden debate on October 22, 2020

Trump and Biden faced off in Nashville, Tennessee, less than two weeks before Election Day. The debate was more subdued than the first round, in part because of new rules that kept each candidate’s microphone on mute.

As Biden and Trump feuded over personal finances, Trump alleged that Biden had made money from foreign entities. Trump further attempted to paint Biden as a typical corrupt politician. A recent report from House Republicans alleged that Biden “engaged in a conspiracy to monetize his office of public trust to enrich his family.”

HARRIS WILL HAVE TO TAKE ON BIDEN, HIS LEGACY IN TRUMP DEBATE: NYT COLUMNIST

Trump also questioned Biden’s performance in his nearly 50-year career in public service. Trump said he decided to run for president because of the “bad job” of the Obama administration.

“I ran because of you, Joe,” Trump said. “I ran because of you.”

Trump at a town hall

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump participates in a Fox News Town Hall with Sean Hannity at New Holland Arena on September 4, 2024 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Nielsen Media Research recorded 63 million viewers for the final debate of the 2020 cycle. On the day of the debate, Biden led Trump by 7.9 points.

Trump, Biden debate on September 29, 2020

What people will likely remember most from this debate was Trump’s constant interruptions, prompting an exasperated Biden to declare, “Would you shut up, man?” The debate quickly descended into chaos as the two clashed over abortion rights and Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. An unyielding Trump continued to press Biden on whether he would “pack” the Supreme Court following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. As the two men heatedly sparred about the pandemic, Trump declared, “I’ll tell you, Joe, you could never have done the job that we did. You don’t have it in your blood.”

Trump did not shy away from personally attacking Biden, insulting him about his intelligence and saying, “There is nothing smart about you, Joe.”

TEXAS GOVERNOR ABBOTT REVEALS THE 3 ISSUES TRUMP SHOULD FOCUS ON DURING DEBATE: ‘LET HARRIS TALK’

Trump speaks at press conference

Former President Donald Trump, right, along with members of his legal team, during a news conference at Trump Tower in New York City on Friday, September 6, 2024. (Cheney Orr/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

With 73.1 million viewers, the Cleveland debate was the third most-watched Trump-Biden debate. Real Clear Politics had Biden ahead of Trump by 6.1 points going into the debate.

Trump, Clinton debate on October 19, 2016

The final debate of the 2016 cycle saw Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton focus more on personal foibles than policy. When Clinton tried to tie Trump to Russia, he responded that Russian President Vladimir Putin “has no respect” for Clinton or then-President Barack Obama and insisted he didn’t know Putin. As the two sparred over Obamacare and Social Security, Trump called Clinton “such a nasty woman.”

DEBATE FLASHBACK: TRUMP AND CLINTON’S MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS OF 2016

Clinton used the debate repeatedly to disparage Trump’s character. Clinton’s strongest language came when she challenged Trump’s behavior toward women. Trump pushed back, vehemently denying all allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women. “Nobody has more respect for women than I do,” he said.

A major highlight of the debate was when Trump refused to say he would accept the election results (much like his answers in 2020). Trump continued to insist that the process was “rigged” and that he would “look into it at that time.”

Trump and Vance

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally with Republican vice presidential candidate Senator J.D. Vance in Atlanta on August 3, 2024. (Reuters)

Trump, Clinton debate on October 9, 2016

Trump used the debate as an opportunity to launch a scathing attack on Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton. When questioned about his behavior toward women, Trump said, “There’s never been anyone in the history of politics who has been so insulting to women,” about former President Clinton. Hillary Clinton declined to address his comments about her husband.

TRUMP SAYS NO ‘LIFTS’ OR ‘STANDS’ WILL BE ALLOWED DURING KAMALA HARRIS DEBATE

Trump and Clinton also clashed over Russian aggression, Trump’s refusal to release his tax returns and his plans for “extreme screening” of immigrants from countries with criminal ties.

Trump, Clinton debate on September 26, 2016

Trump’s first presidential debate was the first in nearly four decades to draw more than 70 million viewers, with a total of 84 million viewers.

Trump came out with a forceful stance when he addressed the economy and jobs. While Clinton tried to defend her economic proposals, Trump attacked her political record, declaring her a “typical politician: all talk, no action.” But as the debate progressed, Clinton put Trump more on the defensive. At one point, Clinton confronted Trump about his past comments on race and gender, prompting him to say, “It’s all words, it’s all sound bites.”

THE SIXTEEN TOP MOMENTS FROM THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE OF 2016

Hillary Clinton speaks during the first day of the Democratic National Convention

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19, 2024. (REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

A review of Trump’s previous debates reveals an approach of quick statements, personal insults and ripostes — a strategy designed to overwhelm his opponents. Moreover, with the race proving to be as close as it is, Harris is expected to face more pressure as the newer and unproven contender.