Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris faced off in their first presidential debate, sharing their plans for the nation’s future and the economy. The 90-minute event, hosted by ABC News, was held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Harris kicked off the debate by introducing herself to Trump and extending a handshake, which he accepted. This marked their first encounter since the launch of the 2024 campaign.
TAKEAWAYS:
In a recent confrontation, the former president repeated claims about widespread fraud in the 2020 election and echoed a conspiracy theory suggesting immigrants were eating pets.
He falsely accused Democrats of supporting abortions after birth, which is both illegal and equivalent to murder.
The vice president, Harris, countered by calling Trump “weak” and “wrong,” reminding him that 81 million voters had fired him in favor of Joe Biden.
During the debate, Trump painted a bleak picture of the U.S. and repeated unproven conspiracy theories about the FBI and crime statistics.
Harris responded by criticizing Trump’s policies on immigration, pointing out his failure to address the root causes of migration.
She also discussed economic policies, proposing tax cuts for families and businesses, while accusing Trump of only benefiting the wealthy.
On foreign policy, Harris supported a two-state solution for Gaza and condemned Trump’s cozy relationships with dictators.
She also criticized his role in overturning Roe v. Wade and the resulting harm to women’s health care.
Throughout, Trump continued to attack Harris, calling her a “Marxist” and blaming the current administration for inflation and border issues.
Despite their exchanges, Trump continued to defend his previous policies and refused to acknowledge his loss in the 2020 election.
