22 Times We Cheered for Hillary During the Presidential Debate

Tonight Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump squared off in the first 2016 presidential debate moderated by Lester Holt of NBC. The debate—advertised like a combination of a reality TV finale in 2006 and the Super Bowl—was highly anticipated, with expectations for candidates ranging from being able to stand on stage for 90 minutes without completely losing it, and being able to balance the seriousness of national issues with the ability to make fun jokes and not come off as defensive when asked about nonexistent scandals. While Trump didn’t quite live up to expectations, Clinton was calm and collected throughout the debate.

Though it was supposed to be a silent debate, those of us who were watching at home definitely cheered at some of Hillary’s best moments. Here are 22 times Lester Holt would’ve scolded us if we’d been in the audience:

1) "We have to build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top."

Hillary Clinton started the "Achieving Prosperity" section of the debate off strong, telling voters that she planned to build an economy that worked for everyone, not just those (ahem Donald Trump) at the top. She mentioned raising the minimum wage, paid family leave, affordable childcare, equal pay for women’s work, closing corporate loopholes, and taxing the wealthy so they pay their fair share as part of her comprehensive economic policy. Can we get a #HillYes?

2) "Donald, it’s good to be with you."

The fact that Hillary managed to say this with a straight face while the audience giggled showed off her even temperament.

3) "Trumped up trickle-down economics."

As soon as Hillary called Donald Trump’s proposed tax cuts an extreme version of trickle-down economics—or as she likes to say “Trumped up trickle-down economics”—my mom sent me a text that read, "Zing!" Well said, Mom.

4) When Trump told her he wanted her to be "very happy" with him calling her Secretary Clinton, and she gave him a look that could kill.

You can bet she was very happy that he was reckless enough to make that kind of sexist comment.

5) When Trump made her point for her about the housing collapse.

Clinton called out Trump for his unethical business practices during the housing collapse, and he then proceeded to make her point for her by saying, "That’s called business, by the way."

6) "Donald, I know you live in your own reality."

Hillary referenced her fact checkers throughout the night, but her best fact checking moment had to be this one liner referencing Trump’s reality show career: "Donald, I know you live in your own reality, but those are not the facts."

7) Hillary nodding and laughing through Trump’s incoherent ranting.

When Trump got especially incoherent, Hillary smiled, laughed, and nodded like she knew exactly what voters were hearing.  

8) When she got tired of all the interruptions and asked Lester to reset the clock.

Hillary was not about to let Trump talk over her tonight.

9) When she burned Trump while calling him out on refusing to release his tax returns.

"Maybe he’s not as rich as he says he is," might be the only thing that could ever bruise Trump’s ego.

10) She finally gave people the emails answer they wanted to hear.

While Clinton is clearly beyond tired of talking about the damn emails, her answer in tonight’s debate was exactly what those still clinging to the nonexistent scandal needed to hear.

11) "You’ve taken business bankruptcy six times."

While Donald may be fond of talking up what a great business man he is, Hillary was there to set the record straight. It only got better when Trump’s response was to admit he takes advantage of the law to get out of paying people.

12) Her thoughtful response to Trump’s "law and order" plan.

While Trump took a militant approach to race relations and police brutality, saying people needed more “law and order,” Clinton gave a well thought out answer that showed how she’s evolved on criminal justice reform.

13) When she said implicit bias was a problem for everyone, not just the police.

When asked if she thought police had an implicit bias against African Americans, Hillary challenged everyone to examine their implicit bias and where their ideas and thoughts about race are coming from.

14) "I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. You know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be President."

Mic dropped.

15) "Well just listen to what you heard…"

"Well, just listen to what you heard," is the most appropriate response to everything Donald Trump has ever said.

16) She reminded the audience of her credentials.

When it came to the "Securing America" section of the debate, Clinton reminded voters of her credentials as former Secretary of State, and referenced Osama bin Laden in the process. Trump, on the other hand, was definitely out of his element.

17) Hillary laughed off Trump’s temperament jab with the rest of the audience.

After laughing off her opponent’s assertion that he had a "winning temperament" Clinton proceeded to completely dismantle his argument.

18) When Hillary found her new campaign slogan: "Words matter."

Because apparently we actually need to be reminded of that in this election.

19) She reminds voters that Trump’s plan for defeating ISIS is a "secret" because it doesn’t exist.

While Trump accused Clinton of giving away her plan to defeat ISIS, thus playing into their hands, she pointed out that he might be so secretive because there really wasn’t anything to be secretive about.

20) She was not having any of that "lack of stamina" BS.

Not hearing it, Trump.

21) She pointed out Trump’s sexism and racism directly.

Hillary didn’t pull any punches when it came to Donald’s overt sexism.

22) She reminded voters of the stakes in this election.

She took a moment in closing to remind voters of the stakes in this election, by saying, "vote as if your future depended on it."

After one exhausting night, we’re definitely still fired up for November.