Hillary Clinton’s experience debating Donald J. Trump is unparalleled within the Democratic Party. She stood on the debate stage with him three times during the contentious 2016 presidential election, an election that left a mark not just on her, but on Democrats as a whole.
While Trump’s victory in 2016 still casts a long shadow, Clinton’s reflections on those debates remain sharp. In a recent conversation with The New York Times about Karen Dunn, her former debate coach who is now assisting Vice President Kamala Harris, Clinton shared her thoughts on the preparation and strategies needed to face Trump on such a high-stakes platform.
Clinton recalls that it was during their very first debate that Trump unexpectedly mocked her for being prepared. “It wasn’t something we had considered would happen,” she said, still sounding slightly incredulous. “Who thought someone could be ridiculed for preparing to debate in front of millions of people?” Yet, in true Clinton fashion, she turned the moment to her advantage. “Yes, I prepared. I prepared to be president,” she quipped, underscoring the confidence and command she felt over the material. She explained that her goal in the debate wasn’t just to hold her own but to ensure that Trump didn’t dominate the stage—a challenge, given his penchant for showmanship.
The conversation shifted naturally to Harris, who faces her own debate showdown with Trump. Clinton expressed faith in the vice president’s debating skills, citing Harris’s performances in previous races, including her debate against Mike Pence. “She needs to be comfortable enough to go on both offense and defense,” Clinton advised, pointing out the vast range of issues one could tackle when debating Trump.
However, she acknowledged that Trump’s tactics are predictable. “He doesn’t answer questions; he doesn’t provide specifics,” Clinton noted. Instead, his strategy often boils down to tearing down his opponent, something he seems poised to repeat. Clinton suggested that Harris must confront him head-on, exposing Trump’s record as president and the more controversial proposals he’s hinted at, such as his connection to Project 2025. “She has a lot of good ammunition,” Clinton remarked, hinting that there’s no shortage of material for Harris to work with.
One question that arises for any candidate debating Trump is whether it’s better to engage directly with his often combative style or rise above it. Clinton believes Harris’s current approach of not giving too much attention to Trump has been effective, citing Harris’s “excellent, energetic campaign” that continues to resonate with voters. But she also advises Harris not to let Trump off too easily. Clinton once again recalled her own experience, including the moment during one debate when she called Trump a “Russian puppet”—a comment that left him visibly flustered. “He can be rattled,” she stated. “He doesn’t know how to respond to substantive, direct attacks.”
When asked if there’s anything Harris can learn from Clinton’s experiences, the former secretary of state highlighted Philippe Reines, who famously portrayed Trump during Clinton’s debate prep and is now doing the same for Harris. “He did such a good job at capturing Trump’s whole persona,” Clinton mused, “and I’m sure he’s doing the same for Kamala.”
Ultimately, Clinton’s message to Harris is clear: don’t be baited by Trump’s provocations. Instead, bait him. “This debate is about exposing him as someone who is neither a strong nor stable leader,” she concluded. By doing so, Clinton believes the undecided voters in key states might still be persuaded to reject another four years of Trump’s leadership.
