New Delhi: US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris battled it out at their first presidential debate hosted by ABC News. Harris and Trump shook hands after they were introduced, ending an eight-year streak of no handshakes on the presidential debate stage. Interestingly, this is also the first time the two leaders met, and Harris made a point to introduce herself to Trump.
The United States will vote after eight weeks.
Ukraine war
To a question on whether he wants Ukraine to win its war against Russia, Trump did not have a direct answer but said he wants the war to stop. “I think it’s in the US’ best interest to get this war finished.” Harris said Russian President Vladimir Putin would be in Kyiv if Trump was president. Harris said Trump would “give up” in the face of pressure from Putin. “Putin would be sitting in Kyiv with his eyes on the rest of Europe, starting with Poland. How quickly you would give up for the sake of favour and what you think is a friendship with what is known to be a dictator who would eat you for lunch.”
Israel-Hamas war in Gaza
Harris batted for a two-state solution. Trump said the situation would have never reached this point if he was President. He said Harris hates Israel as well as the Arab population in the region. The vice president responded that Trump’s claims were not true and stressed her support for Israel.
Abortion
Harris warned that Donald Trump will ban abortions if he returns as President. “She is lying,” he replied. Trump appeared to be stumped by the question of whether he would veto a national abortion ban. He said such a law won’t pass the Congress.
Cost of living and economy
Harris spoke of her middle-class background and her plans to support families and small businesses if elected to the top post. Targeting Trump, she said he would provide tax cuts to “billionaires and big corporations” and also reminded the viewers of the condition he left the economy in when Joe Biden took over. At one point, Harris said, “Donald Trump has no plan for you.”
Immigration
As the debate heated up, Trump started targeting Harris on the Biden administration’s record on immigration, she responded, “You’re going to hear from the same old tired playbook, a bunch of lies, grievances and name-calling.” Harris said Trump would be talking about this subject a lot. She invited people to attend Trump’s rallies because it’s “a really interesting thing to watch”. She said at the former President’s rallies, he talks about fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter and that people start leaving his rallies because they are bored.
A livid Trump responded that no one goes to Harris’ rallies. Trump then started talking about a social media conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants eating dogs in Ohio. “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating – they’re eating the pets of the people that live there.” This got a laugh out of Harris as she shook her head.