Following the highly anticipated debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Republicans are expressing widespread disappointment over Trump's performance, which many saw as "unprepared" and "off-message." Despite Trump's public insistence that he won the debate, many within his party privately admitted it was a missed opportunity for the Republican nominee.

Trump's performance was marred by frequent distractions and visible frustration, leading to what some Republican commentators described as "missed opportunities" to effectively challenge Harris on policy. According to multiple GOP insiders, Trump's debate strategy lacked focus, allowing Harris to set the tone and gain the upper hand.

Even though Trump publicly declared he won the debate "by a lot," the Republican Party is in damage control mode. Many of Trump’s supporters, including political analysts and commentators, voiced concern about how Harris successfully baited Trump into off-topic tangents and emotional reactions, ultimately weakening his overall message.

Brit Hume, a prominent Fox News analyst, didn’t mince words, saying, “Trump had a bad night. We just heard so many of the old grievances that we all know aren’t winners politically.” This sentiment echoed through much of the GOP establishment, who were left frustrated by Trump's failure to address critical issues that could have resonated with voters.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who helped prepare Trump for his 2016 debates against Hillary Clinton, expressed similar disappointment. “This is the difference between someone who is well-prepared and someone who is unprepared," Christie said, adding, "Whoever prepared Donald Trump should be fired.”

One defining moment that set the tone for the debate occurred early on when Kamala Harris approached Trump’s lectern and shook his hand—a small but symbolic gesture that some observers believed allowed Harris to assert dominance in the debate. From that moment, Harris took control, with a series of pointed jabs that appeared to unnerve Trump.

A particularly damaging exchange happened when Harris mocked people for leaving Trump’s rallies "early out of exhaustion and boredom." Instead of addressing a follow-up question on immigration policy, Trump veered off-topic, defending his rally sizes and accusing Harris of mischaracterizing his events.

Harris also drew blood by suggesting that U.S. allies saw Trump as “weak”, referencing his coziness with Vladimir Putin. Trump responded by invoking praise from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a far-right leader with anti-immigration policies. Critics were quick to note that Orbán's autocratic style and erosion of democratic institutions was not exactly a ringing endorsement of strong leadership.

Constitutional law professor David Driesen commented, "It was surreal to hear Trump cite Orbán’s praise as validation of his own leadership."

The fallout from Trump’s debate performance led to widespread criticism within the Republican Party. Some Congressional Republicans voiced concerns about Trump’s inability to maintain discipline during the debate, with one GOP representative telling Politico, “I’m just sad... This is not good. She knew exactly where to cut to get under his skin.”

Conservative radio host Erick Erickson also weighed in, stating that Trump’s loss wasn’t due to the moderators or external factors but rather his own performance. “Trump lost the debate, and whining about the moderators doesn’t change it,” Erickson said on social media.

In contrast, Harris received grudging praise from Republicans, who noted her strong preparation and ability to stay on message. “She was exquisitely well-prepared, she laid traps, and he chased every rabbit down every hole instead of talking about the things that he should have been talking about,” said Christie.

Harris effectively turned the debate into a showcase of her debate skills, handling Trump’s outbursts with calm and composure, which helped her win favor among undecided voters.

According to a CNN flash poll, 63% of viewers believed Harris won the debate, compared to just 37% for Trump. This marked a significant reversal from previous expectations, as polling before the debate showed a more balanced view of who would come out on top.

Despite Trump’s insistence that he won, many in his own party fear the debate outcome could negatively impact his momentum. One GOP representative predicted that Trump would need to take drastic action to change the narrative, possibly through a campaign shake-up or another bold move to shift attention away from his debate performance.

Republicans are now left hoping that Trump can regain focus in the final stretch of the campaign, but for many, the damage may have already been done. As one House Republican said, “The road just got very narrow. This is not good.”

With only weeks to go until the election, the aftermath of this debate could have a lasting impact on Trump’s chances, especially as independent voters and undecideds continue to process what they saw.