President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris were spotted exchanging pleasantries at the 9/11 memorial in New York City, just hours after their heated debate.
The unexpected interaction occurred on Wednesday, September 11, as the political rivals gathered to commemorate the tragic events of 2001.
In a widely circulated video on social media, Trump appeared to mouth “you did a good job” to Harris during the solemn ceremony.
This gesture came as a shock to many, considering the intensity of their debate the previous night, where Harris was perceived by many to have outperformed the former president.
Harris appears to say “thank you, thank you” in response.
The memorial service, held at Ground Zero in Manhattan, saw Trump and Harris standing in close proximity, separated only by President Joe Biden and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
OK Magazine reported that Harris sported an all-black ensemble adorned with a commemorative blue ribbon, while Trump opted for his signature navy suit and red tie, also wearing the blue ribbon.
This cordial exchange stood in stark contrast to the fierce verbal sparring that took place during their first-ever debate in Philadelphia.
The televised event, broadcast on ABC, kicked off with an awkward handshake between the two candidates.
Harris initiated the greeting, saying, “I’m Kamala Harris. Let’s have a good debate.”
OK noted that Trump responded with, “Nice to see you. Have fun.”
Throughout the debate, both contenders took numerous jabs at each other.
Harris, in particular, encouraged viewers to watch Trump’s MAGA rallies, describing them as “a really interesting thing to watch.”
She went on to criticize Trump’s rhetoric, stating, “You will see during the course of his rallies, he talks about fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter. He will talk about windmills causing cancer!”
The vice president also claimed that attendees often leave Trump’s rallies early “out of exhaustion and boredom.”
She emphasized her commitment to the American people, saying, “I believe you deserve a president who actually puts you first. And I pledge to you that I will.”
Trump, not one to back down, fired back at Harris during the debate.
He brought up Biden’s decision to step down from the election in July, asserting, “She got no votes. He got 14 million votes. You talk about a threat to democracy? He got 14 million and they threw him out of office.”
Despite the heated exchanges during the debate, the candidates’ apparent ability to set aside their differences at the 9/11 memorial demonstrates a moment of unity in remembrance of a national tragedy.
As the 2024 presidential race intensifies, all eyes will be on Trump and Harris to see how their rivalry unfolds in the coming months.
The New York Post is one of many outlets that reported that Harris “clearly” won the debate.Â
The outlet further noted that her performance still somehow failed to translate into a significant boost in voter support for the VP.
Trump, as expected, disagrees that Harris was the clear victor Tuesday night.
In a post-debate interview on “Hannity” Tuesday night, Trump boldly declared his performance at the debate as his “best debate ever,” adding that this came despite it being “three against one;” a tip to the moderators who “fact checked” him numerous times while allowing Harris to say what she wanted unchecked.
