We got beef here! Verbal duel between Harris and Trump

By Bridget Shi

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris met for the first time on the presidential debate stage in Philadelphia on Tuesday (Sept. 10) night. They may have shaken hands, but they did not hit it off.

Kamala Harris baited Donald Trump for nearly all of the 1 hour and 45 minutes of their first and potentially only debate – and Trump took every bit of it.

They disagreed fiercely on abortion and the economy, immigration and the war in Ukraine. But throughout the night, Mr. Trump found himself in a defensive crouch, relitigating his record rather than picking apart hers.

Foreign media said this is the first time the two sides face to face, and maybe the only televised debate.

Analysts say the debate will most likely reshape the campaign and the race in the final stretch, and could even be the difference between success and failure in the election.

 

The Most Anticipated Moment

For the first time, American voters had the opportunity to witness Kamala Harris and Donald Trump share a stage during a debate, held in Pennsylvania—a key battleground state known for its fierce competition. This made the debate highly anticipated.

Reuters emphasized the critical importance of this debate for Harris. It provided her with a vital platform to introduce herself to more voters. Polls indicated that more than a quarter of likely voters admitted they were not very familiar with Harris, whereas Trump, having previously occupied the White House, was already well-known across America.

Analysts noted that during the debate, Harris needed to demonstrate her leadership qualities and convey to American voters that she is qualified, prepared, and capable of serving as the President of the United States.

For Trump, this debate presented his best chance to regain the upper hand. Public opinion suggested that Trump's ability to "keep his mouth in check" would play a decisive role in his performance during the debate.

Intense 90-Minutes Debate

Over the course of 90 minutes, the debate fiercely tackled key issues such as the economy, abortion, immigration, the Gaza conflict, and the crisis in Ukraine.

 

Economic

Time and time again, voters have told pollsters that the economy is their No. 1 issue.

In a Pew Research Centre poll released on Monday (Sept. 9), 81 percent of registered voters said the economy was "very important" in deciding their vote – 16 points higher than the proportion of those who answered the same about healthcare.

A CBS News poll in March found that 65 percent of respondents remembered the economy under Trump as being good, nearly double the number who felt the same way about Biden's economy at the time.

Under Trump, inflation-adjusted median household income rose from US$75,100 in 2017 to US$79,560 in 2020 (after peaking at US$81,210 in 2019).

At Tuesday's (Sept. 10) debate, Trump predictability hit out at Harris on the cost of living, describing inflation as "a disaster" for Americans from all walks of life.

"People can't go out and buy cereal or bacon or eggs or anything else," he said. "The people of our country are absolutely dying with what they've done."

"Donald Trump has no plan for you and when you look at his economic plan, it's all about tax breaks for the richest people," Harris replied.

Harris also highlighted proposals she has put forward as part of her pledge to create an "opportunity economy," including a US$50,000 tax deduction for new small businesses and a US$6,000 child tax credit.

"What I have done and what I intend to do is build on the hopes and aspirations of the American people," she said.

 

Abortion

While Trump told debate moderators that he would not sign a nationwide abortion bill into law, he refused to give a yes or no answer when asked if he would veto one.

Trump hailed the Supreme Court justices — three of whom he appointed — for giving full control of abortion laws to state governments. And he "strongly" believes in exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother.

Harris said she would "proudly" sign a bill into law that restored the federal right to an abortion. "One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government and Donald Trump certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with her body," Harris said.

Harris highlighted cases where women have been unable to get abortions after being victims of rape or struggled to get miscarriage care.

"You want to talk about this is what people wanted?" Harris said. "Pregnant women who want to carry a pregnancy to term, suffering from a miscarriage, being denied care in an emergency room because the health care providers are afraid they might go to jail, and she's bleeding out in a car in the parking lot – she didn't want that."

Trump reiterated that he supports exceptions for cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is at risk.

Trump claimed that some babies were being subjected to "executions" after birth.

One of the ABC moderators interceded to fact-check him, saying: "There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it's born."

 

Immigration

CNN reports that Trump has made immigration and border issues central themes of his campaign. In this debate, Trump also frequently shifted the discussion towards immigration and launched attacks on Harris.

The vice president Harris has endorsed comprehensive immigration reform, seeking pathways to citizenship for immigrants in the U.S. without legal status, with a faster track for young immigrants living in the country illegally who arrived as children.

Early in Biden's term, he made Harris his administration's point person on the root causes of migration. Trump and top Republicans now blame Harris for a situation at the U.S.-Mexico border that they say is out of control due to policies that were too lenient.

Harris has countered that Trump worsened the situation by killing a bipartisan Senate compromise that would have included tougher asylum standards and hiring more border agents, immigration judges and asylum officers.

Harris said she would bring back that bill and sign that law, saying that Trump "talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk" on immigration.

While Trump, the former president promises to mount the largest domestic deportation in U.S. history — an operation that could involve detention camps and the National Guard.

After the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Trump pledged new "ideological screening" for immigrants to bar "dangerous lunatics, haters, bigots, and maniacs." He'd also try to deport people who are in the U.S. legally but harbor "jihadist sympathies." He'd seek to end birthright citizenship for people born in the U.S. whose parents are both in the country illegally.

 

The Gaza conflict

Harris offered some mild criticism of Israel's response, an ongoing bombardment that's killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, before pivoting to her support for a two-state solution, Israel's right to defend itself and a commitment to rebuilding Gaza.

"We need a ceasefire deal and we need the hostages out," Harris declared. Biden and others recently conceded such an agreement is a long way off.

Trump offered even fewer details. "She hates Israel," he said of Harris, adding that she also hates "Arabs."

Additionally, the discussion touched on Trump's "hush money" case, the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

 

The crisis in Ukraine

Asked whether it is Ukraine that should win the war, Trump said it was in the US interest "to get this war finished."

Trump has repeatedly taken issue with U.S. aid to Ukraine and says he will continue to "fundamentally reevaluate" the mission and purpose of the NATO alliance if he returns to office. He has claimed, without explanation, that he will be able to end the war before his inauguration by bringing both sides to the negotiating table.

Trump previously had vowed to end the war "within 24 hours" when in office by negotiating with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

Harris countered that the reason Trump said he could "solve" the Ukraine crisis within 24 hours is because he would abandon Ukraine.

Harris also emphasized the U.S. support for Ukraine, noting that the Biden administration, together with Western allies, has provided substantial support to Ukraine.

 

Election Race in Deadlock

According to several U.S. media reports, the support levels for Harris and Trump are currently very close, resulting in a deadlock.

A recent poll released by The New York Times and Siena College shows Trump leading Harris with 48% support compared to her 47%, but this lead is still within the margin of error.

Currently, Trump either matches Harris closely or leads by a narrow margin in seven swing states, indicating that the outcome remains unpredictable.

 

 

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