Tonight's #debate was the most Tweeted ever, with more than 17 million debate-related Tweets sent.
— Twitter (@twitter) October 10, 2016
Of course, the Twittersphere obsessed about one candidate -- the orange one -- more than the other:
Final share of Twitter #debate conversation around the presidential candidates on stage:
— Twitter Government (@gov) October 10, 2016
64% - @realDonaldTrump
36% - @HillaryClinton pic.twitter.com/jD338cX5Rr
And the top three most-tweeted moments, according to Twitter? They were thanks to Trump, Trump and ... Trump.
Top 3 Tweeted Moments of the US presidential #debate: pic.twitter.com/ZxUsdrLLMK
— Twitter Government (@gov) October 10, 2016
Of course, Donald Trump had everyone talking even before the debate, thanks to his surprise livestreamed panel of Bill Clinton accusers.
Oh God, Trump just appeared with Bill's accusers.
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) October 10, 2016
Once the debate started, Trump supporters quickly began to declare that their candidate was winning, bigly, but at least one Republican -- former RNC Chairman Michael Steele -- had a different take barely half an hour into the show:
GOP at this moment. #debate pic.twitter.com/nD0gc29sWj
— Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) October 10, 2016
According to Twitter, the most retweeted tweet of the night came from "This Muslim American Life" author Moustafa Bayoumi, who responded to Trump saying that Muslims should report suspicious activity:
I'm a Muslim, and I would like to report a crazy man threatening a woman on a stage in Missouri. #debate
— Moustafa Bayoumi (@BayoumiMoustafa) October 10, 2016
Among those threats: Trump's assertion that if he were in charge, Hillary Clinton would be in jail.
Vote for me, I will use the state to punish my political enemies!
— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) October 10, 2016
Trump's attempt to deflect questions about his #TrumpTapes scandal by talking about Bill Clinton also got the Twittersphere worked up.
"Bill Clinton is a bad guy and Hillary belongs to him because she is a woman and all women belong to their men."
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) October 10, 2016
For much of the night, Twitter obsessed about Trump's evasiveness -- and the eternal struggle of the debate moderators, Martha Raddatz and Anderson Cooper:
I love her ANSWER THE QUESTION BITCH?! pic.twitter.com/6y0OVacHhc
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) October 10, 2016
Trump chose to spar directly with the moderators, complaining that they were ganging up on him, and in cutting him off, not giving him enough time to respond.
Trump complaining #debate for @washingtonpost pic.twitter.com/ncnfOkZmEK
— Ann Telnaes (@AnnTelnaes) October 10, 2016
Trump's pacing and posture throughout the night were definitely yuge topics of conversation.
What. Is. He. Doing. pic.twitter.com/6uE8sf09ul
— James West (@jameswest2010) October 10, 2016
Now I know why Trump took that married woman to a furniture store ... pic.twitter.com/yqX2RuInOe
— Jeffrey Lewis (@ArmsControlWonk) October 10, 2016
Given the "town hall" format of the debate, the undecided voters on stage -- and their reactions, captured in screengrabs and gifs -- also prompted plenty of tweets.
I think this dude just flipped to "decided voter" pic.twitter.com/h6WRytOhEs
— Clay Skipper (@SkipperClay) October 10, 2016
Here's an undecided female voter when Trump called Clinton "the devil," which is everything you need to know about 2016. #debate pic.twitter.com/63eXCXjoyM
— Gillian Brockell (@gbrockell) October 10, 2016
After #TrumpTapes, Trump was on the defence during the #debate. Says he's a gentleman, but not everyone agrees https://t.co/YlDG7c1K2v pic.twitter.com/RrGBFyC1oB
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) October 10, 2016
Trump's deployment of facts also attracted plenty of commentary.
Trump writing a term paper:
— Kat Combs (@itskatcombs) October 10, 2016
Sources Cited:
1. You Know It
2. I know It
3. Everybody Knows It
And Trump's repeated attacks on Hillary Clinton for not fixing things -- tax laws, terrorism, etc. -- over her 30 years of public service also rankled.
Please oh please someone ask Trump how a bill becomes a law.#debate #debates2016
— Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) October 10, 2016
"Why didn't you unilaterally solve everything ?" is such a perfect window of how he thinks this works.
— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) October 10, 2016
According to multiple reports, the Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, also participated in the debate. The Twittersphere made note of this when a fly landed on her face.
Showing my support for Hillary! I can't believe I'm on TV! #FliesForHillary #flygate #debate pic.twitter.com/l3UYP6P4yb
— Hillary's Fly (@FliesForHillary) October 10, 2016
How did the debate moderators allow this to happen? And why didn't Donald Trump get his own fly? We're still waiting for answers.
There will be 10,000 conspiracy theories about the fly #debate
— Hillary Chabot (@hillarychabot) October 10, 2016
Beyond the fly, other evidence that Hillary Clinton was on stage: She cited Abe Lincoln's political strategy -- and then Trump turned that back at her, saying that "Honest Abe never lied," unlike her.
I bet Abraham Lincoln would rather go watch another play than watch this debate.
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) October 10, 2016
Oh, and then there was that moment at the end, when audience member Karl Becker asked, "My question to both of you is, regardless of the current rhetoric, would either of you name one positive thing that you respect in one another?"
Is Carl Becker a couples therapist? #debate
— Naomi (@Blacktress) October 10, 2016
Trump went last ("She's a fighter..."), but it was Clinton's answer ("I respect his children...") that scored on Twitter.
Audience Guy: "What's one thing you respect about Donald Trump?"
— Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman) October 10, 2016
Hillary Clinton: "Five people who are not Donald Trump."
Say, could someone please sum up the debate in 10 seconds?
Yup. @VanJones68 sums it up in 10 seconds. #debate pic.twitter.com/NQfpy4nsZ2
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) October 10, 2016
OK, that's helpful, but 10 seconds is a long time to pay attention these days. Got anything a little shorter?
Summing up Sunday's #debate by looking at @realDonaldTrump & @HillaryClinton's reactions to each other's statements https://t.co/5Oxby7Vjyw pic.twitter.com/cuzlShMjqN
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) October 10, 2016
Great, that's perfect -- thanks.
P.S. Bonus round:
Tiffany Trump skillfully pulls away from her dad's kiss #debate pic.twitter.com/aFDvMCMElu
— BryFun (@BryFun1) October 10, 2016
Simon Dumenco, aka Media Guy, is an Ad Age editor-at-large. You can follow him on Twitter @simondumenco.