Social Media Wars: The Unseen Battle of The Trump-Harris Debate

During the debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, social media platforms became a secondary battlefield. Democrats highlighted Harris's strategic moves, while Trump supporters criticized her economic plan. Clips and memes from the debate went viral, reflecting the significant role of social media in modern elections. Harris and Trump have engaged influencers to bolster their campaign presence online.

During Tuesday's debate between Republican Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, tens of millions of Americans were glued to their television screens, while a parallel showdown unfolded on social media platforms. Democrats pounced from the opening moments as Harris walked across the stage to shake Trump's hand.

A post by social media user Adam James Smith on X, which read, "Kamala said you're gonna shake my hand dammit!" garnered 40,000 likes. Advisers confirmed that part of Vice President Harris' strategy was to provoke Trump into making statements that could go viral, a tactic that appeared to be successful.

Supporters shared images of Harris' expressive reactions as Trump recited false claims, including one about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio. Trump's remark, "THEY'RE EATING THE DOGS," quickly trended on social media, raising eyebrows for its odd context in a presidential debate. Meanwhile, Trump's critique of Harris' economic plan as simplistic and derivative also gained traction online.

Political strategists emphasize the growing influence of social media in this election. Both parties have enlisted influencers to disseminate information about their policies and candidates. Although Trump has more followers on social media platforms like X and TikTok, Harris's campaign has scored higher engagement on her TikTok videos.

(With inputs from agencies.)