- Harris challenges Trump on economy, abortion, rallies
- Trump criticizes Harris on immigration, Marxism
- Harris wins praise; Trump claims best debate ever
The highly anticipated event occurred less than two months before election day and may be the only opportunity for voters to see the contenders face off.
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris battled on abortion, the economy, and illegal immigration in their first – and likely only – debate before the US election.
Ms. Harris’ attacks appeared to get under her opponent’s skin at times, suggesting that people left his rallies out of “boredom” and that Russian President Vladimir Putin “would eat him for lunch.”
Meanwhile, Mr Trump often accused her of facilitating massive illegal immigration, calling her a dangerous “Marxist” and the worst vice president in history.
The discussion in Philadelphia opened with Ms Harris approaching Mr Trump for a handshake, an awkward start to the 100-minute debate.
Ms Harris addressed voters straight into the camera multiple times, promising to decrease the cost of living and restore abortion rights.
Even though the discussion was held without a live studio audience, the ex-president remained focused on the two moderators.
In the early debates, Mr Trump claimed Ms Harris had no economic plan and, as part of the Biden administration, had overseen soaring inflation and a flood of illegal immigrants taking jobs.
The vice president, in response, accused the Republican of planning “a tax cut for billionaires and large corporations.”
During one of Mr Trump’s numerous references to a “dangerous” immigrant inflow, he made the strange assertion that some of them had eaten people’s pets.
“In Springfield, they are eating the dogs. The individuals that entered. They are eating the cats. “They’re eating the residents’ pets,” he claimed.
The debate moderator emphasized that officials in Springfield, Ohio, had received no credible allegations of such instances.
Abortion rights were another hot topic of the evening.
Ms Harris condemned “Trump abortion bans” and called it “unconscionable” for the government to dictate what people do with their bodies.
During his presidency, Donald Trump appointed three Supreme Court judges who helped eliminate the constitutional right to abortion in 2022.
The 78-year-old defended the action, claiming that the issue was “tearing the country apart” and that he had taken the lead on IVF rights.
“Each state votes. Now, it’s up to the people to vote. It is not related to the federal government. “I did a great service by doing it,” Mr Trump stated.
Ms Harris called his assertion that her vice presidential nominee, Tim Walz, supports abortion in the ninth month a “bunch of lies” as she offered a devastating picture of what some women are presently going through.
Now, in over 20 states, there are Trump abortion bans which make it criminal for a doctor or nurse to provide health care,” she informed me.
“In one state, it allows for life imprisonment. Trump’s abortion bans include no exceptions for rape or incest.
‘Love Letters to Kim Jong-un’
The former president, who hopes to return to the White House despite his myriad legal issues, appeared agitated early on when Kamala Harris said that people left his rallies “out of exhaustion and boredom.”
Mr. Trump responded by claiming that his rallies were “the most incredible rallies in the history of politics” and that Ms. Harris was “busing” people to her events and “paying them.”
Among other topics, the two nominees were questioned on Ukraine, Gaza, and Afghanistan.
Mr Trump said that a Democratic victory would lead to World War III and portrayed Ms Harris as a “horrible negotiator” incapable of standing up for America.
She said that Putin “would eat you for lunch,” saying that he has “exchanged love letters” with Kim Jong-un and “admires dictators.”
Ms Harris claimed that America’s top military commanders saw him as a liability who could be easily controlled.
“It is well known that these dictators and autocrats are rooting for you to be president again because they’re so clear they can manipulate you with flattery and favors,” commented Ms. Harris.
Mr Trump reiterated his conviction that if he had been in charge, the Ukraine incursion would not have occurred, and promised to terminate it within days if he won the election.
“Unlock your financial potential with free Webull shares in the UK.”
On Gaza, Ms Harris insisted that Israel had the right to defend itself but that a ceasefire and a road to a two-state solution were critical. Mr Trump claimed she “hated” Israel and refused to meet President Netanyahu.
‘Not even close.’
Ms Harris’ performance was praised by the candidate she replaced after his debate catastrophe.
Joe Biden tweeted on X that the debate “wasn’t even close,” but the 59-year-old later informed supporters that there was still “a lot of work to be done.”
Mr Trump described it as his “best debate ever” and said his opponent “lost” when he entered the spin room to defend his performance.
There are currently no plans for a second debate, and the ex-president told reporters that he would “have to think about it.”
Before Tuesday night, FiveThirtyEight’s compilation of opinion polls had Ms Harris narrowly ahead at 47.2% to 44.4%; it remains to be seen whether the TV duel would materially affect those numbers.
Following the debate, Taylor Swift stated on Instagram that she supported Ms Harris.
I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for rights and causes that I believe require a warrior to champion,” she wrote.
She’s a steady-handed, gifted leader, and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this nation if we’re led by calm rather than chaos.
Soon after, the Harris campaign celebrated the endorsement on X by displaying Harris-Walz friendship bracelets.
Regarding the lyrics of Swift’s hit…Ready For It? – Her team released an image of the bracelets, available for purchase on the campaign’s official website, with the caption: “Are you ready for it? Harris-Walz friendship bracelets are now available in stores.
Friendship bracelets have become synonymous with Swift and her sold-out Eras tour, with fans exchanging them among themselves.
