Trump vs Harris: A Non-American Take
Last night's debate was eventful, though predictable. It wasn’t going to matter who won, as both sides were bound to claim victory—just as the Biden campaign did after his last debate, despite it being a colossal mess.
As someone who is neither American nor emotionally invested in either candidate, I have a more balanced vantage point to assess last night's debate.
Put simply, Kamala Harris won by not losing. She delivered more than was expected of her, while Trump fell short of what was expected of him. It almost felt like Trump 2024 was debating Trump 2016—and not liking it at all.
To be fair, Kamala offered little to no policy substance, managing to dodge and sidestep any nuanced policy discussions. She played the Trump card against Trump, using high-pitched emotional appeals and attacking him head-on. Furthermore, it turns out that Trump no longer has a monopoly on fake news and lies, as Kamala did an impressive job of manipulating facts throughout the debate.
As for the US foreign policy, which is a big issue in the US elections at the moment, both candidates were competing on 2 things:
Who hates China more
Who loves Israel more
It is disappointing to see the lack of moral and ethical position by both candidates, especially Kamala Harris on the Gaza issue. It was equally disturbing to watch Kamala Harris give credit for Afghan exit to President Biden who utterly failed to deliver a smooth and graceful exit to America from Afghanistan.
Nevertheless, last night Trump came expecting a policy debate where he could stand on solid ground, but ended up in a boxing match for which he was unprepared, relying on outdated notes. His biggest missed opportunity was failing to establish a clear link between Kamala and Biden, proving to the audience that she was no different from her predecessor.
Kamala cemented her audience and strengthened her Presidential bid, while Trump missed the chance to end her political career last night. He may still win in November, but she is making sure it won’t be easy for him.
Interesting to witness American politics if a woman eventually wins the presidency. However we keep struggling with Kamala Harris's often erratic demeanor, which is no better than Trump's. Troubling times.