•Trump and Harris
The highly anticipated first debate between the United States Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, and her Republican counterpart, Donald Trump, has come and gone, but not without providing insight into what both presidential hopefuls have in stock for the American people.
The debate took place at 2 am today, Wednesday, 11 September (Nigerian time), at the National Constitution Center (NCC) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and lasted for 90 minutes, reports Nigerian Tribune.
Below are ten major takeaways you should know from what is likely to be the only debate between the two before the November U.S. presidential election.
1. Trump’s Disjointed Performance
The former president struggled to stay on topic, frequently diverting to unrelated subjects such as immigration and bizarre rumours about pet eating. His responses needed coherence, seemingly prioritising attacks on Harris over addressing the questions.
2. Contrasting Perspectives on Ukraine
Trump stated that he would seek a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, while Harris emphasised the importance of maintaining support for Ukraine’s defence against the Russian invasion.
3. Opposing Views on Abortion
Harris vowed to sign into law a bill that would reinstate the protections of Roe v. Wade, should Congress pass it, stressing a woman’s right to make her own decisions. Trump countered by accusing Democrats of supporting abortion ‘after birth’ and argued that abortion laws should be decided by individual states, not the federal government.
4. Views on the Gaza Conflict
When asked about the Gaza war, Trump accused Harris of being biased against Israel, adding that the war would not have occurred if he had been in office. In response, Harris stated that she supports a ceasefire deal in Gaza that would lead to the release of Israeli captives.
5. Harris Intensifies Criticism of Trump
The vice president delivered sharp critiques of Trump, calling him a ‘disgrace’ and noting how former Republican aides have distanced themselves from him. Harris labelled him ‘weak,’ adding that those rooting for him to return to the presidency are dictators.
6. Views on the Economy
Harris criticised Trump’s economic policies during the debate, focusing on his tariffs and trade deficit. She contrasted his tax cuts for the wealthy with her vision of an ‘opportunity economy’ aimed at supporting everyday Americans. Trump defended his record, claiming he had built a strong economy and blamed the current administration for inflation and unaffordable living costs.
7. Trump Portrays Harris as Radical
The Republican candidate attempted to paint Harris as a far-left ‘Marxist’ who would seize guns and defund the police. However, she defended these claims as misrepresentations of her actual policy positions.
8. Trump’s Immigration Claims
Trump argued that immigrants had damaged the fabric of the country, claiming that the nation was ‘failing’ and making accusations that immigrants in Ohio were eating pets. Harris criticised Trump’s approach, pointing out his fixation on immigration, even when it was not the focus of the discussion.
9. The 6 January 2021 Capitol Attack
When asked about the Capitol attack, Trump denied any involvement, stating that he was only asked to give a speech and blamed the incident on the failures of Nancy Pelosi and Washington’s mayor. In contrast, Harris, who was present at the Capitol that day, condemned Trump for inciting the violent mob and accused him of encouraging the attack that desecrated the nation’s capital.
10. Both Claimed Victory in the Debate
Both Republicans and Democrats claimed victory following the debate. Trump declared it his best debate performance to date, expressing confidence in his success. Meanwhile, Democrats insisted that Harris emerged as the clear winner.
