Former President Donald Trump is dismissing criticisms of his angry demeanor during the first presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, even as insiders within his own campaign reportedly worry that his temperament could harm his chances. In a lengthy Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump defended his combative style, insisting that his anger is justified by his deep concern for the state of the country.
“I won the Debate, but was criticized by the Radical Left Lunatics because I looked ‘angry and forceful,'” Trump wrote. “But think, why wouldn’t I be angry? I love the U.S.A., and it is being destroyed by grossly incompetent leadership.”
Despite Trump’s defiance, his performance has raised alarm among swing state voters, Fox News anchors, and even a clinical psychiatrist, all of whom expressed concern about his bitter responses during the debate, which was hosted by ABC News.
Insiders within Trump’s campaign had reportedly hoped that the former president would focus on policy during the debate rather than engaging in personal attacks. “Trump’s campaign is most concerned … with the former president’s mood,” sources told The Guardian. “The campaign’s internal refrain is whether they get ‘happy Trump’ or ‘angry Trump.'”
However, instead of sticking to policy, Trump veered into complaints about media coverage of his rallies and repeated a debunked claim—promoted by his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH)—that Haitian immigrants have been stealing and eating pets. This assertion, which has been widely discredited, has nevertheless been echoed by Trump.
In his Thursday post, Trump also took aim at Harris, sarcastically criticizing her demeanor during the debate and accusing her of using “FAKE one-and-a-half hour smiles” while ignoring the “problems” caused by her and President Joe Biden. “Am I supposed to be smiling, like Comrade Kamala Harris, with her FAKE one-and-a-half hour smile and long practiced facial expressions, despite all of the problems that she and Crooked Joe have caused?” Trump wrote.
Concluding his message, Trump doubled down on his frustration, writing, “No, there’s nothing to smile about.”As Trump pushes back against critiques of his anger, it remains unclear how his forceful tone will play with voters, particularly in swing states where his campaign is hoping to make inroads.