Harris and Initial Handshake with Trump, Later Escalates to the Unexpected.
The two U.S. presidential hopefuls, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, have never crossed paths prior to their scheduled TV duel on November 5. This confrontation in Philadelphia marks their initial and presumably final encounter during the election process. The initial exchanges are civil, but soon enough, the gloves come off and the discussion turns sour.
Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, begins the debate by alleging that Donald Trump left the nation grappling with record unemployment levels, reminiscent of the Great Depression. Trump retaliates by branding Harris as a "Marxist." Both candidates trade accusations of lacking substantial economic understanding.
Border Control Controversies
Just past the 30-minute mark, the debate veers into the highly sensitive topic of border control and immigration. Trump, echoing his running mate J.D. Vance's claims, insists that illegal immigrants from Haiti are resorting to cannibalism in Springfield, Ohio. However, the debate moderators mention that contacting local authorities has failed to uncover any evidence of such occurrences.
The debate takes an unexpected turn when Hannibal Lecter, the infamous Hollywood cannibal, is referred to for the first time in U.S. presidential debate history. The mention is not made by Trump but rather by Kamala Harris, who criticizes his extraordinary claims such as wind turbines inducing cancer and the belief that many would abandon Harris' campaign events due to exhaustion and dullness.
Trump addresses these assertions without lingering on the immigration issue. Instead, he issues a strong rebuke against Harris, claiming her campaign events fail to attract adequate attendance. He then rails against renewable energy, specifically solar parks, stating that they consume excessive land space, particularly in deserts.
Election Manipulation Allegations
The debate moderators guide the conversation to election result recognition. Trump claims possession of convincing evidence that the 2020 election was manipulated by the Democrats for the benefit of Joe Biden. However, no such evidence has been presented, leaving the claims unsubstantiated. Trump's supporters have also failed to present substantial proof of widespread voter fraud in court. In his defense, Trump attributes these losses to procedural flaws.
Harris retaliates with a personal jibe, stating that Trump was dismissed by a staggering 81 million electoral votes, alluding to the ballots cast for Joe Biden. She humorously suggests that Trump's inability to accept these results is challenging for him to process.
The discussion shifts to the military conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. Harris accuses Trump of bringing discredit to the United States for his actions. In response, Trump invokes the controversial Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who believes that the U.S. would crumble without Trump's leadership.
Trump's Unwillingness to Engage
During the debate, American spectators note that Trump frequently addresses Biden rather than Harris. Additionally, he directs his answers exclusively to moderator David Muir, neglecting both Harris and debate moderator Linsey Davis. The lack of engagement does not go unnoticed, with Harris reminding Trump that he is, in fact, contending against her and not Joe Biden. Debate moderator Linsey Davis also remains unacknowledged throughout the proceedings.
Strict Debate Protocols
The strict rules for the TV debate govern microphone usage, allowing only one candidate to speak at a time with a two-minute response period, followed by a two-minute retort. Both candidates occupy their designated podiums, furnished with minimal essentials such as a pen, notepad, and water. The event is held without an audience presence.
Prior to the debate, Trump confirmed his intentions to instigate conflict, urging Republican representatives to deter the government from operating if their border security demands are not met on Truth Social.
Despite Trump's repeated focus on Biden during the debate, Harris politely reminds him, "Mr. Trump, I believe we're here discussing our differences, not yours with Vice President Biden." Later, in response to Trump's accusations of election manipulation, Harris asserts, "It's disappointing to see a former president continue to spread baseless claims about election fraud, especially without presenting any substantial evidence."
