Trump-Harris Debate continued nearly all of the 1 hour and 45 minutes of their first and potentially only debate on Tuesday night – featured some sharp comments and memorable moments.
Kamala Harris took control of her first debate with Donald Trump, delivering sharp criticisms to provoke the former president. Throughout the nearly two-hour exchange, Harris kept her composure while Trump spiralled into emotional responses and repeated unfounded claims.
Key points:
- Baiting Trump: Harris peppered her answers with digs aimed at Trump’s pride, saying, “World leaders are laughing at you” and that Trump was a “disgrace” in the eyes of military leaders. She added, “He was fired by 81 million voters,” referencing the 2020 election. These comments quickly sent Trump into defensive tirades.
- Trump’s Reactions: In response to Harris’ barbs, Trump claimed, “We have a nation that is dying,” and repeatedly returned to false accusations about the 2020 election, saying, “It was stolen from me.” He also repeated an unverified claim that immigrants were “eating the dogs and cats” of Americans.
- Jabs at Trump’s rallies: When Harris mentioned the low attendance at Trump’s rallies, Trump couldn’t let it go. “People don’t leave my rallies, we have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics,” he said, deviating from the moderators’ questions.
- Abortion Showdown: The debate took a sharp turn when the candidates sparred over abortion. Trump, defending his role in overturning Roe v. Wade, said, “I did a great service by doing it. It took courage.” Harris shot back, highlighting women denied care for miscarriages due to restrictive abortion laws, asking, “You want to talk about what people wanted? A woman bleeding out in a car denied care because of the fear doctors might go to jail—she didn’t want that.”
- Conspiracy Theories: Trump pushed falsehoods throughout the debate, including an unfounded claim that immigrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. When moderator David Muir pointed out that city officials had denied such occurrences, Trump doubled down: “We’ll find out.”
- Harris’ Calm Strategy: Harris rarely engaged directly with Trump’s falsehoods, often smiling or shaking her head. She told the audience, “Donald Trump has no plan for you,” painting him as self-centred and disconnected from middle-class Americans.
- Taylor Swift Endorsement: Midway through the debate, Harris received a public endorsement from pop icon Taylor Swift, who posted on Instagram, signing off as “Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady,” about controversial remarks made by Trump’s running mate JD Vance. The endorsement further boosted Harris’ image.
In conclusion, Harris’ sharp strategy and focus on key issues like abortion and Trump’s record left the former president off-balance and defensive. The debate showed a clear contrast in approach, with Harris positioning herself as a steady, compassionate leader while Trump struggled with emotional responses and conspiracy theories.
