Trump vs Kamala Debate Highlights: Foreign wars to abortion and immigration

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris Presidential debate: What started off with a handshake turned into a fierce battle as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced each other Tuesday night during the Presidential debate for the first, and possibly, the last time ahead of the November polls.

Inflation, abortion, immigration and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza were some of the issues that took centrestage in the debate moderated by ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis.

The early pleasantries set the tone for the 90-minute exchange, with Harris baiting Trump with jabs over the economy during his presidency, while the latter retorted with jibes similar to his debate with Joe Biden.

Here are some key takeaways from the debate:

On Economy

The debate commenced with Harris taking the first question about whether the US economy is better now than it was four years ago.

She criticized Trump’s economic legacy, saying, “Let’s talk about what Donald Trump left us. Donald Trump left us the worst unemployment since the Great Depression. Donald Trump left us the worst public health epidemic in a century. Donald Trump left us the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.”

Harris also condemned Trump’s tax policies for the wealthy and his imposition of tariffs.

Trump defended his trade policies, asserting that the tariffs he imposed were beneficial and that foreign countries, not American consumers, would bear the cost. “Who’s going to have higher prices is China and all of the countries that have been ripping us off for years,” Trump said.

On Abortion

Harris came out strong, defending abortion rights, perhaps the strongest issue for Democrats since Trump’s nominees created a Supreme Court majority to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion. “American people should have the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies,” Harris said on abortion ban

“Please understand, if Donald Trump were to be re-elected, he will sign a national abortion ban. Understand, in his project 2025 there would be a national abortion ban.”

Harris proceeded to emphasise the need for reproductive rights. “I think the American people believe that certain freedoms, in particular, the freedom to make decisions about one’s own body should not be made by the government,” she said.

Trump said the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling — overturning Roe v Wade and ending the federal right to abortion – rightly allows states to regulate reproductive rights.

“I am not signing a ban,” Trump argued, adding that a national abortion ban is not needed.

On Immigration

Trump repeated the claim that migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating pets, stating, “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats.”

Harris criticized Trump’s rhetoric as extreme and unsubstantiated, suggesting it diverted attention from pressing issues affecting Americans.

Policy shifts and fracking

Harris was questioned about her shifting policy positions, including her stance on fracking and border security. She reiterated her stance on fracking, “I made that very clear in 2020 I will not ban fracking,” emphasizing that she has not changed her position on this issue.

Legal troubles

Harris brought up Trump’s past comments about potentially “terminating” the US Constitution, quoting his 2022 statement on election fraud.

Trump had suggested that such fraud could justify the termination of constitutional rules. Harris also highlighted Trump’s legal troubles, framing the election as a choice between a prosecutor and a convict.

She referred to Trump’s criminal convictions and ongoing legal issues, stating, “I think this is so rich coming from someone who has been prosecuted for national security crimes, economic crimes, election interference, has been found liable for sexual assault.”

Harris reiterates that she will ‘always give Israel the ability to defend itself’

On US policy towards Israel, Harris reiterated her commitment to supporting Israel’s right to defend itself, while also criticizing the civilian casualties in Gaza.

Trump, on the other hand, accused Harris of being hostile towards Israel and claimed that Israel’s existence would be at risk if she were elected.

“She hates Israel. At the same time, in her own way, she hates the Arab population because the whole place is going to get blown up — Arabs, Jewish people, Israel. Israel will be gone,” he said.

Trump would ‘give up’ Ukraine war: Harris

Harris criticized Trump’s approach to the Ukraine war, asserting that under his rule, Putin would have already advanced further into Ukraine.

“If Donald Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now,” she said.

Trump suggested that the US should focus on negotiating a deal to end the conflict, implying that a more direct resolution could be achieved.

Harris says autocrats and dictators ‘rooting’ for Trump

Harris says it is “absolutely well known that these dictators and autocrats are rooting for you to be president again”.
She added it is “so clear they can manipulate you with flattery and favors, and so many military leaders who you have worked with have told me you are a disgrace.”

Healthcare and Afghanistan

Trump admitted to having no definitive healthcare plan, despite criticizing the Affordable Care Act. “We still do not have a plan. I have concepts of a plan. I’m not president right now,” he conceded.

Trump also defended his administration’s deal with the Taliban regarding the Afghanistan withdrawal, criticizing the Biden administration’s execution of the plan.

“These people did the worst withdrawal, and in my opinion, the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country,” Trump said. “And by the way, that’s why Russia attacked Ukraine because they saw how incompetent she and her boss are.”

Harris defended by saying that she agreed with Biden’s decision to pull out of Afghanistan, which she said has been saving tax payers $300 million a day.

Instead, she condemned Trump for reaching “a weak, terrible deal” with the Taliban, while sideling the US-backed Afghan government.

Closing remarks

In his closing remarks, Trump questioned Harris’s effectiveness in implementing campaign promises and labelled the Biden-Harris administration as the “worst in history”.

Harris concluded by framing the upcoming election as a choice between a vision focused on the future versus one that seeks to revert to past policies.

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