Key Takeaways from the Harris-Trump Debate

In their first presidential debate on Tuesday night, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris engaged in a heated and contentious exchange. The 90-minute debate, held in Philadelphia, featured sharp exchanges on a range of issues including abortion, immigration, and foreign policy. Here are five notable highlights from the clash:

1. Opening Handshake and Body Language

As the debate began, Kamala Harris approached Donald Trump with a handshake, introducing herself and wishing him a good debate. This was the first handshake in a presidential debate in eight years. Throughout the evening, Harris maintained direct eye contact with Trump, often displaying a range of reactions from smirking to shaking her head in disbelief. Trump, in contrast, mostly stared straight ahead or occasionally shook his head. The split-screen shots highlighted their contrasting approaches and set the tone for the debate.

2. Early Exchanges and Interruptions

Harris took an aggressive stance from the start, criticizing Trump for his handling of criminal trials and the Covid-19 pandemic. Trump, in turn, shifted the focus to inflation and immigration, accusing the Biden-Harris administration of “destroying” the country and labeling Harris a “Marxist.” Harris taunted Trump about his rally sizes, saying, “People start leaving his rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom.” Trump retaliated by downplaying the significance of Harris’s rallies.

During the debate, Trump echoed a familiar line from a previous debate, telling Harris, “I’m talking now,” a reference to her 2020 debate with Mike Pence. He also asked for “quiet please” when Harris spoke over him and criticized her for mocking his praise of dictators. Trump made controversial claims about President Joe Biden disliking Harris and suggested that Democratic rhetoric contributed to an assassination attempt against him.

3. Unsubstantiated Claims about Migrants

Trump brought up a contentious and unverified claim about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, allegedly stealing and eating pets. Despite city officials dismissing these reports as unfounded, Trump insisted, “They’re eating the dogs, they’re eating the cats, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there.” Harris responded by labeling this assertion as “extreme,” emphasizing the lack of evidence supporting Trump’s claims.

4. Abortion Debate and Fact-Checking

The debate on abortion was a significant focal point. Harris accused Trump of planning to impose an abortion ban if re-elected and criticized him for supporting restrictive measures in conservative states. Trump denied the allegations, asserting that he supports exceptions for cases of rape, incest, or threats to the mother’s life. He also made a controversial claim about “executions” of babies after birth, which prompted one of the ABC moderators to interject and clarify that no state allows infanticide.

5. Policy Disputes and Accusations

Trump accused Harris of lacking original policies and claimed she was merely mimicking his ideas. He suggested she would be no different from President Biden and derisively offered to “send her a MAGA hat.” Harris rebutted this by emphasizing her individuality and distancing herself from Biden. When questioned about his plans for replacing Obamacare, Trump mentioned having “concepts of a plan” that would be “better” if he were elected. On economic issues, where Trump typically holds an advantage in polls, Harris asserted, “I have a plan,” while Trump depicted her as a radical liberal. He accused her of supporting extreme measures like defunding the police, confiscating guns, and banning fracking. Harris denied these claims, highlighting that she owns a gun herself.

The debate underscored the stark contrasts between the candidates and set the stage for further discussions leading up to the November election.