'The View’ calls Kamala Harris' debate performance 'almost like elder abuse' as hosts slam Donald Trump

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: On Wednesday's episode of 'The View', the hosts delved into the previous night’s debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

Co-host Joy Behar encapsulated their overall reaction, calling Harris' decisive win so overwhelming that it felt “almost like elder abuse.”

Whoopi Goldberg praises Harris’ 'commanding' performance

“Clearly, Vice President Harris kicked some butt,” Whoopi Goldberg declared as the show kicked off. She highlighted Harris’ performance in exposing Trump for his alignment with dictators, killing the immigration bill, having no healthcare plan, and “spewing lies about post-birth abortion, which to be clear is illegal everywhere.”

Behar echoed this sentiment, describing Harris' approach as so aggressive it resembled “almost like elder abuse,” and added, “It was sort of painful to watch.”

The debate saw Trump appearing older and less coherent, frequently veering off-topic rather than addressing the moderators' questions. In contrast, Harris emerged as the clear winner in many observers' eyes, including Taylor Swift, who endorsed Harris and Walz immediately following the debate.

Former Trump staffer and panelists praise Harris' debate mastery

Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump White House staffer, commented on Harris’ performance, stating, “Harris objectively won the night. Republicans are saying it, Fox News is saying it. As I predicted, he melted down within the first few minutes. She laid traps for him and he flopped right into them.”

Sara Haines praised Harris’ debate preparation, saying, “That’s what preparation looks like.”

She highlighted Harris' bold initial move when Trump attempted to dodge her as she approached to shake his hand. “That handshake was such a bold way to start the whole thing,” she noted.

Goldberg pointed out that Trump avoided saying Harris’ first name, which he had made a point to mispronounce several times on the campaign trail.

“You notice he didn’t say [her name] at all because he knew - because she said to him, ‘You want to say something to me, say it to my face.’ And she put her face right there [during the handshake], and he couldn’t do it.”

While Goldberg acknowledged that Harris’ debate performance wasn’t flawless, she was nonetheless satisfied. “Are there things she could have said more about? Yes, probably. But she nailed what she wanted to do,” she concluded, affirming, “And that’s what I wanted to hear.”