Debate reactions: What Democrats, Republicans and pundits said about Harris vs. Trump

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris went head-to-head at the presidential debate Tuesday, which was also their first time meeting in person.

Presidential debates are some of the most watched political moments in the election cycle. This race became a shake-up when President Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance started a movement calling on him to step down over concerns over his fitness to serve.

The debate comes as Harris is less than two months into her campaign, after Biden swiftly named her as his successor and party leaders rallied behind her. The stakes were high for Democrats to show their candidate under pressure to a big audience for just the second time after the Democratic National Convention.

Early reactions indicate that Harris won this round, putting Trump on the defense after baiting him into angry rants. Here is what people are saying:

Presidential debate live updates: What time will Kamala Harris, Donald Trump face off?

Democrats react, poke fun at Trump

Democratic surrogates Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York poked fun of some of Trump's tangents at the debate.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, while speaking to CBS News in a televised interview from the spin room, said Harris did a great job and echoed common praise for Harris' performance that she "baited" Trump.

"As a former prosecutor, I know an easy target when I see one," Shapiro said in the interview. "He's focused on himself, he's not focused on the future of trying to help the American people."

Republicans criticized moderators

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson issued a statement, calling the moderators "biased" and criticizing Harris for immigration issues.

House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., praised Trump's performance for promoting Republican priorities and blamed the moderators. "The ABC moderators were not journalists, they were pro-Kamala activists who baselessly attacked President Trump leading to a 3 on 1 debate," she said in a statement on X.

Speaking from the spin room with Sen. Marco Rubio, R.-Fla., Sean Hannity said on a Fox News clip shared on X that ABC was "the biggest failure for the country tonight."

Rubio agreed, calling it an "embarrassment to journalism."

Presidential debate fact check: Keeping an eye on claims from Trump, Harris

Pundits say Kamala Harris delivered on high stakes

Speaking on CNN, former Fox News anchor Chris Wallace called the debate a resounding win for Harris.

"I didn't think I was ever going to witness a debate as devastating as the one (Jake Tapper) and (Dana Bash) moderated in June, where Joe Biden basically tanked his re-election campaign," Wallace said. "I think tonight was just as devastating. I think that Kamala Harris pitched a shut out."

CNN anchor Abby D. Phillip said Trump took the bait.

NBC News presidential historian Michael Beschloss posted on X, saying "from start to end, Kamala Harris has just delivered what is easily one of the most successful Presidential debate performances in all of American history."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harris-Trump debate reactions from politicians, election pundits