Trump glares angrily ahead as Harris stares him down during tense debate

Former President Donald Trump spent much of his first altercation with Vice President Kamala Harris leaned forward, hands on the lectern, brooding.

He would not look at Harris, even when making an emphatic point about her, instead pointing his finger over at his Democratic opponent without turning his head.

It was one of the most tangible signs that Harris was getting under Trump's skin in their first debate, which started with Trump talking about one of his key campaign themes: the economy.

Harris at times tilted her head in disbelief, smiled incredulously and at one point looked right at Trump, putting her hand to her chin in an exaggerated gesture as though to convey she was listening to a tall tale. Her expression turned into an instant meme on social media.

On several other occasions, Harris made a point to look directly at the camera while delivering her answers. It was her attempt to try to emphasize the message that Trump is in for it for himself and she is attempting to turn the page.

But Trump also began veering in his answers — and growing visibly agitated.

"They’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there," Trump said, referencing a baseless claim about Haitian immigrants in an answer about immigration. "This is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame."

Trump also complained about the size of Harris' rallies, accusing her without evidence of paying people to attend.

At one point, Trump did glance over when Harris attempted to speak into her microphone that was muted.

"I'm talking now," Trump said, in a reference to what Harris said to then-Vice President Mike Pence in the 2020 election. "Does that look familiar?"