In their inaugural presidential debate for the 2024 US election on Tuesday, Republican Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris squared off on critical issues including abortion, the economy, immigration, and Trump’s legal troubles.
The debate, a pivotal moment in their tightly contested race, aimed to sway undecided voters as the high-stakes election approaches. Trump and Harris, seeking to gain an edge, addressed their contrasting views in a lively exchange.
Harris, leveraging her experience as a former prosecutor, sharply criticized Trump’s positions on abortion, his fitness for office, and his legal issues, including a criminal conviction and various indictments. Trump, who denied any wrongdoing, responded defensively, alleging that the legal cases against him were politically motivated by Democrats. He also reiterated his baseless claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
Harris mocked Trump’s campaign rallies, suggesting that attendees left early out of boredom, a comment that seemed to irritate Trump. He countered with boasts about rally sizes and unsubstantiated claims about Haitian immigrants in Ohio, which Harris dismissed with laughter.
On abortion, Harris passionately defended reproductive rights, arguing against recent state bans and predicting that Trump would support a national ban. Trump accused Harris and Democrats of supporting infanticide, a claim Harris dismissed as “a bunch of lies.”
Trump faced scrutiny over his connections to Project 2025, a conservative policy plan, and was accused by Harris of supporting radical proposals like restricting access to abortion pills. Trump distanced himself from the plan, although some of his advisers were involved in its creation.
The candidates also debated economic policies, with Harris criticizing Trump’s plan for high tariffs and promoting her own tax benefits for families and small businesses. Trump criticized the Biden administration’s handling of inflation and immigration, repeating unfounded claims about increased crime from migrants crossing the southern border.
In foreign policy discussions, Harris accused Trump of being willing to abandon US support for Ukraine in favor of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump countered by alleging that Harris “hates Israel,” a claim she firmly rejected.
This debate, the only one scheduled between Trump and Harris, was held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia with a televised audience of millions. Both candidates faced the challenge of energizing their base and appealing to undecided voters as early voting approaches.
Harris, having entered the race recently after President Joe Biden’s exit, used the debate to introduce herself to voters. Trump, facing multiple legal challenges, needed to maintain his base while reaching out to undecided voters.
The debate highlighted a tight race, with polling averages showing the candidates effectively tied in key battleground states. As early voting begins, the debate could influence public perceptions and impact the final weeks of the campaign.
