In their first presidential debate hosted by ABC News, US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris clashed on a range of topics including abortion, war, the economy, and the housing crisis. With eight weeks until the election, the debate marked a significant moment as Trump and Harris, the Republican and Democratic contenders respectively, met on stage for the first time. Notably, they ended an eight-year handshake hiatus with a brief handshake at the start of the debate.
When questioned about the economy and cost of living—key concerns for voters—Harris highlighted her middle-class background and her plans to support families and small businesses. She criticized Trump’s proposed tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations and recalled the economic conditions he left behind when he left office. Harris declared, “Donald Trump has no plan for you.”
As the debate progressed, Trump criticized the Biden administration’s immigration record, prompting Harris to dismiss his remarks as outdated and filled with falsehoods. She argued that Trump’s tenure left the nation with high unemployment, a severe public health crisis, and an attack on democracy, stating, “What we have done is clean up Donald Trump’s mess.”
Trump shifted to personal attacks, labeling Harris a Marxist and claiming he was not given enough credit for his pandemic response, which he described as “phenomenal.” On abortion, Harris warned that a Trump presidency could lead to a national ban, while Trump denied this possibility, claiming it wouldn’t pass Congress.
In discussions about immigration, Harris criticized Trump’s rally rhetoric, suggesting his speeches are uninteresting and filled with fantastical claims. Trump countered with bizarre accusations about Haitian immigrants and criticized Harris’s rallies as poorly attended.
The debate also covered crime control, with Harris pointing out the irony of Trump’s criticisms given his own legal troubles. Trump described these charges as politically motivated and claimed they were the result of attacks from Democrats. He also mentioned an assassination attempt on him, suggesting it was a consequence of his political opponents’ actions.
On foreign policy, Harris advocated for a two-state solution in the Israel-Hamas conflict, while Trump asserted that the situation would not have escalated under his presidency and accused Harris of disliking both Israelis and Arabs. Harris reaffirmed her support for Israel and criticized Trump’s foreign policy stance, particularly regarding Ukraine. She warned that Putin would have advanced further into Europe if Trump were president.
Trump’s failure to directly answer whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war against Russia led him to focus on ending the conflict quickly. As Trump frequently criticized the Biden administration and linked Harris to its failures, Harris reminded him, “You are not running against Biden.”
Lastly, Trump’s questioning of Harris’s racial identity was met with Harris calling it a “tragedy” that such issues are used to divide Americans. She emphasized her role as a representative of a new generation of leadership, while Trump accused the current administration of being “divisive.”
Great information shared.. really enjoyed reading this post thank you author for sharing this post .. appreciated