Sept 11 V7N- While tens of millions of Americans tuned in to watch the debate between Republican Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris on Tuesday, a vibrant secondary battle unfolded on social media, where clips and edits of memorable moments from the debate quickly circulated.From the very start, social media users were engaged, particularly when Harris walked across the stage to shake Trump's hand.

One user, Adam James Smith, captured the moment with the post, "Kamala said you’re gonna shake my hand dammit!" which garnered 40,000 likes on X (formerly Twitter).Harris's debate strategy included provoking Trump into making statements that could go viral, and it appeared to pay off. Supporters shared images of Harris's bemused and skeptical expressions as Trump repeated familiar falsehoods, including a bizarre claim about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, supposedly "eating the pets." This remark quickly trended on social media, with users expressing confusion over its relevance in a presidential debate.

Trump supporters seized on his critique of Harris's economic plan, which he dismissed as simplistic and derivative of President Biden's agenda. His comment, "Run, Spot, run," referencing a classic children's book, also gained traction online.Political strategists note that social media is playing an increasingly significant role in this election cycle, with both parties enlisting content creators and influencers to promote their messages.

Overall, Trump has a larger following on X and TikTok, with 2.4 million followers compared to Harris's 1.3 million. However, Harris's campaign has achieved over 100 million likes on TikTok videos, significantly outpacing Trump's 44 million.As the debate and its aftermath unfolded, it became clear that social media would continue to shape the narrative of this election, influencing public perception and engagement in ways that are more pronounced than in previous cycles.

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