18 Awkward, Yikes, Or Otherwise Ridiculous Presidential Debate Moments
1. The Nixon-Kennedy Debate Sweat
The first-ever televised debate in 1960 had Richard Nixon sweating like he was running a marathon. Viewers at home saw him as nervous and untrustworthy, while radio listeners thought he did just fine.
2. Ford’s Soviet Gaffe
In 1976, President Gerald Ford claimed there was “no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe.” This statement left people scratching their heads since the Cold War was very much a thing.
3. Reagan’s Age Quip
During a 1984 debate, Ronald Reagan was asked if age would be an issue. He replied, “I will not make age an issue. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” Even his rival, Walter Mondale, laughed.
4. Dukakis’s Cold Answer
In 1988, Michael Dukakis was asked if he would support the death penalty if his wife were raped and murdered. His calm, policy-focused response seemed emotionless and didn’t sit well with viewers.
5. Bush Sr.’s Watch Check
George H.W. Bush looked at his watch during a 1992 debate, making it seem like he had somewhere better to be. Not a great look when you’re trying to connect with voters.
6. Al Gore’s Sighs
During the 2000 debates, Al Gore’s heavy sighs and eye rolls while George W. Bush was speaking came off as rude to many viewers.
7. Bush’s “Internets” Flub
In 2004, George W. Bush referred to “the internets” during a debate. It became a meme before memes were even a thing.
8. Kerry’s “Global Test”
John Kerry said U.S. actions should pass a “global test” in 2004, which critics pounced on as a sign of weak leadership.
9. Romney’s “Binders Full of Women”
In 2012, Mitt Romney said he had “binders full of women” when discussing gender equality in hiring. It sounded awkward and out of touch.
10. Trump’s “Nasty Woman” Comment
In 2016, Donald Trump interrupted Hillary Clinton by calling her a “nasty woman.” The phrase quickly turned into a rallying cry for Clinton supporters.
11. Biden’s “Will You Shut Up, Man?”
During a chaotic 2020 debate, Joe Biden famously told Donald Trump, “Will you shut up, man?” Many viewers felt it summed up the entire debate.
12. Clinton’s “Basket of Deplorables”
Hillary Clinton called half of Trump supporters a “basket of deplorables” in 2016. It sparked a lot of backlash and became a point of contention.
13. Trump’s “Stand Back and Stand By”
In 2020, Trump was asked to condemn white supremacist groups and responded with “stand back and stand by,” which drew widespread criticism.
14. Biden’s “Inshallah” Moment
Joe Biden used the Arabic expression “inshallah” during a 2020 debate, which puzzled some viewers and delighted others.
15. The Fly on Pence’s Head
During the 2020 vice-presidential debate, a fly landed on Mike Pence’s head and stayed there for two minutes, becoming an instant internet sensation.
16. Warren’s DNA Test
Elizabeth Warren’s past claim of Native American heritage came up in a 2020 primary debate, leading to an awkward discussion about her DNA test results.
17. Bloomberg’s Debate Struggles
Michael Bloomberg’s performance in the 2020 Democratic primary debates was widely panned, especially when Elizabeth Warren called him out on several issues.
18. Harris’s “That Little Girl Was Me”
Kamala Harris confronted Joe Biden in a 2019 primary debate about his past stance on busing, saying, “That little girl was me,” referring to herself as a child who benefited from busing.
