Donald Trump, much like Napoleon Bonaparte, was “drunk on hubris and narcissism” and faced a “historic humbling” after being “outmaneuvered” by Vice President Kamala Harris during Tuesday night’s debate, according to New York Times columnist Charles Blow.
Blow drew striking comparisons between the two figures, labeling both as “cocksure propagandists” who ultimately fell victim to “staggering miscalculations.” He argued that Trump, much like Napoleon at Waterloo, walked straight into traps carefully laid by Harris. Chief among those traps was Harris’ taunt about Trump’s rallies, suggesting his supporters were “bored” and leaving early. This jab derailed Trump, who went on the defensive, insisting, “I have the most incredible rallies.”
“Trump has spent weeks trying to cast Harris as ‘crazy,’ ‘weak,’ and ‘incompetent’ with a ‘low I.Q.,'” Blow wrote. “He has denigrated her so often that he appeared utterly unprepared to face off against a woman who was both shrewd and strategic.”
Blow praised Harris’ strategy, calling it “genius” for keeping Trump on the defensive throughout the night. According to Blow, Harris continually pivoted, forcing Trump to chase her arguments without ever gaining solid ground. “Trump never made an adjustment. Maybe he couldn’t. Whatever the reason, it led to a disastrous night for him,” Blow noted.
In a broader sense, Blow warned that Trump’s performance in the debate revealed his emotional vulnerabilities, making him susceptible to manipulation by adversaries. The columnist suggested that dictators and foreign leaders likely took note of Harris’ playbook on how to “emotionally manipulate” Trump, highlighting his thin-skinned nature.
Blow concluded his column by asserting that, while Trump may not have met his “Waterloo” in this particular debate, he had certainly met his match in Harris.