In a fiery first presidential debate hosted by ABC News, Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic contender Kamala Harris clashed on key issues, from the economy to immigration and foreign policy. With just eight weeks left before the U.S. election, the two candidates sparred over their visions for America’s future in an intense exchange.
Debate Highlights: Economy, Immigration, and Trump’s Legacy
Kamala Harris opened by emphasizing her middle-class roots, stating her intention to support families and small businesses if elected. In contrast, she accused Trump of favoring tax cuts for billionaires and corporations. “Donald Trump has no plan for you,” Harris remarked as she criticized the economic situation Trump left behind, including high unemployment and the COVID-19 crisis. Trump fired back, defending his administration’s handling of the pandemic, claiming, “We did a phenomenal job with the pandemic.”
Trump targeted Harris on the Biden administration’s immigration record, leading to sharp rebuttals from the vice president. “You’re going to hear the same old tired playbook, a bunch of lies, grievances, and name-calling,” Harris responded, before reminding the audience of the state of the nation when Trump left office: “Donald Trump left us the worst unemployment since the Great Depression and the worst attack on democracy since the Civil War.”
Personal Jabs and Conspiracy Theories
At one point, Trump switched to personal attacks, accusing Harris of having Marxist leanings due to her father’s ideology. Throughout these remarks, Harris maintained a smile, countering with a sharp jab, “World leaders are laughing at Donald Trump. They say you are a disgrace.”
The former president also made a bizarre reference to a social media conspiracy theory about immigrants in Ohio eating pets, which drew laughter from Harris and confusion from the audience. “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs… the pets of the people that live there,” Trump claimed.
Abortion and Crime: Sharp Exchanges Continue
On the topic of abortion, Harris warned that Trump would seek to ban abortions if re-elected. Trump called this a “lie” and stumbled when asked whether he would veto a national abortion ban. Harris also attacked Trump’s record on crime control, pointing out the irony of his remarks given his multiple criminal charges. Trump dismissed these charges as politically motivated, accusing the Department of Justice of weaponizing the law against him.
Foreign Policy: Ukraine War and Israel-Hamas Conflict
Foreign policy was a major theme in the debate, particularly the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Trump vowed to end the war without explicitly stating whether he wants Ukraine to win. Harris claimed that Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin would lead to a weakened U.S. stance. “Putin would be sitting in Kyiv with his eyes on the rest of Europe, starting with Poland,” Harris warned, suggesting that Trump would cave under pressure from Putin.
When asked about the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Harris endorsed a two-state solution, while Trump claimed the conflict would not have escalated under his leadership. He also accused Harris of harboring hostility towards both Israel and the Arab population, which she firmly denied.
Sources By Agencies
