In a heated debate Tuesday night, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump clashed over key issues like the economy, abortion, foreign policy, and immigration. This event marked their first—potentially only—appearance together during this truncated campaign as both candidates sought to capture undecided voters ahead of the November election.
Held in Philadelphia, the debate was crucial, particularly as polls indicated a razor-thin race with Harris and Trump almost neck and neck nationally, and highly competitive in battleground states.
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Stipulated rules from prior debates allowed no audience and restricted open microphones, yet both candidates frequently interrupted one another, escalating the tension throughout the night.
Here are the key moments from the debate:
Harris Takes the Initiative
The evening kicked off with Harris extending her hand for a handshake, a gesture that stood out given the contentious nature of current political discourse. This moment set the tone for her strategy: keep Trump on his toes right from the start.
After the handshake, Harris confidently introduced herself with, “Kamala Harris, let’s have a good debate.” Trump, appearing a bit tense, responded politely but soon shifted to a more defensive posture as Harris launched personal attacks against him.
Past vs. Future Framing
Harris framed the election as a choice between Trump’s divisive past and her vision for the future. Even when discussions turned to immigration, a known Trump stronghold, she tactfully redirected focus back to him, quipping about his past rally experiences where attendees would leave early.
Her comments about Trump’s rallies prompted an agitated response from him, diverting to an outlandish claim about Haitian immigrants “eating pets,” which the moderator promptly fact-checked.
Abortion Controversy
When discussing abortion, Trump struggled under scrutiny about his position and avoided committing to a national ban. He took credit for the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade but repeated falsehoods about Democrats’ views on late-term abortions, which were quickly fact-checked by the moderator.
Harris also seized the opportunity to counterattack on the issue, highlighting the stakes of the abortion debate for voters.
Afghanistan Withdrawal Tact
Trump had previously assailed Harris over the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, yet he largely sidestepped the topic during the debate. When given the chance to address her role, Harris redirected criticism toward the Trump administration’s previous agreements with the Taliban.
Longing for Biden
Throughout the night, Trump seemed to miss his former rival, Biden, reflecting on his absence with sentiments of nostalgia. Harris was quick to remind Trump he was actually competing against her, not Biden, asserting her presence directly.