Intense Assaults in a Competitive Television Clash Between Trump and Harris
During the debate, Harris aiming to inspire a vision of a reconciled nation, depicted Trump portraying America's deterioration and a "fallen state".
The two candidates, sans prior personal meetings, started off with a swift handshake before diving straight into hostile exchanges.
"Donald Trump left us grappling with the worst unemployment since the Great Depression" narrated Harris, critique of Trump's term(2017-2021). The Republican, she declared, was accountable for "the most significant attack on our democracy since the Civil War". She and President Joe Biden had, as she put it, been "dealing with Trump's blunders" since.
Trump voiced his criticisms once more, labeling Harris a "socialist" and arguing she lacked a solid strategy. "She mimicked Biden's strategy, which boils down to: 'We'll try to reduce taxes'" said the 78-year-old billionaire. He repeatedly accused his Democratic opponent of dishing out falsehoods in her statements.
On the topic of abortion, Harris argued Trump was propagating "numerous falsehoods". As president, he had personally chosen three Supreme Court justices to overrule the nationwide right to abortion. By fabricating these events, "he's degrading American women" declared the vice president.
In foreign policy, Harris contended Trump was a figure of ridicule internationally. "World leaders are chuckling at Donald Trump" claimed Harris. She accused Trump of aligning with oppressors like Russian President Vladimir Putin, who "would devour him for lunch". Dictators and autocrats cherished seeing Trump in the White House as they knew they could "coerce him with flattery and favors".
Trump reiterated his denial of his defeat in the 2020 election. "Listen, there's ample evidence. You just need to scrutinize it... I garnered almost 75 million votes, the most votes any incumbent president has amassed", said Trump.
The Republican Trump had failed to concede his election loss to the current office holder, Joe Biden, in 2020, declaring instead he had been deprived of victory. Due to his efforts to overturn the result and transform it into a triumph, the 78-year-old is facing two trials.
In this year's election campaign, Trump has left no doubt that he would refuse acceptance of a loss in the 2024 presidential election and would challenge it. Harris reminded Trump of his various legal predicaments and his guilty verdict in the hush money case.
This was the very first TV debate between Trump and Harris. Just post debate's conclusion, the Harris team challenged the 78-year-old Republican to a subsequent debate. As of now, neither side has agreed on additional dates.
Trump professed it as his "best debate" and accused the two ABC moderators of harboring bias. "It was three against one" he wrote on his online platform, Truth Social.
Only a few minutes past the debate closure, pop sensation Taylor Swift pulled off a surprise: She announced on Instagram that she would be casting her vote for Harris in the November 5 ballot.
Despite her efforts to portray a united nation, Harris acknowledged the significant impact of Trump's term, leading to an 'Election defeat' in 2020 for the Republican. Trump, however, continues to deny his 'Election defeat' and refuses to acknowledge Joe Biden as the rightful winner.
