Nigel Farage, a staunch ally of Donald Trump, has described the recent U.S. presidential debate as a “score draw.” Farage’s remarks come after Trump faced significant backlash for his controversial statements about immigrants during the televised event.
Trump’s claims, including that immigrants are eating domestic pets, were met with ridicule from critics and even Vice President Kamala Harris, who confronted the former president head-on during the debate.
Farage, who leads the Reform UK party and has been one of Trump’s most vocal supporters in the UK, offered a relatively muted response compared to his usual full-throated defense of the Republican leader.
His reaction mirrors growing discomfort among Trump’s supporters, many of whom privately feel that the debate was decisively won by Harris, despite Trump’s attempt to paint a different picture.
Debate Criticism Mounts Against Trump Amid Controversy
Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, another vocal supporter of Trump’s campaign, also maintained a low profile since the debate. Truss, who in the past has rallied behind Trump in his contest against Harris, has refrained from publicly commenting on the performance.
A source close to her revealed that while she continues to back Trump, she is unlikely to release any fresh statements at this time. Similarly, Boris Johnson, another of Trump’s British allies, has remained silent.
Trump’s own post-debate analysis of his performance struck a notably different tone. After the debate, he made a rare appearance in the spin room — a space where politicians and their aides attempt to influence media coverage — and declared, “It was my best debate ever, I think.”
When asked why he opted to appear rather than letting his performance speak for itself, Trump explained that he had committed to appearing on several shows but still felt it had been a “great night.”
However, not everyone shared Trump’s upbeat assessment. The former president suffered an unexpected setback when pop star Taylor Swift publicly voiced her support for Kamala Harris.
This endorsement added to the pressure on Trump, who seemed off-balance throughout the debate. From the moment Harris walked over to shake his hand, Trump appeared to struggle to maintain control of the conversation.
Harris took the opportunity to mock Trump’s “tedious rallies,” implying that attendees were leaving early due to boredom. She also tackled critical issues, such as abortion and the economy, challenging Trump at every turn.
The debate, held in Philadelphia on ABC, maybe the only matchup between the two candidates before the U.S. election in November.
One of the most controversial moments came when Trump reiterated unfounded claims that immigrants are responsible for stealing and eating pets. He also falsely suggested that abortion patients were killing their children after birth.
When Harris accused Trump of boring his supporters with long-winded speeches, Trump tried to steer the conversation back to immigration, making inflammatory statements about immigrant communities.
At one point, Trump even alleged that immigrants in Ohio were “eating the dogs,” a claim swiftly refuted by local police, who stated there were no such reports. Trump continued by saying, “The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating — they’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”
Harris, who reacted with disbelief, shook her head and responded, “This is unbelievable.” She described Trump’s remarks as “extreme” and warned at the beginning of the debate that Trump would likely resort to such rhetoric to incite fear among his base.
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