Trump-Harris Debate: Abortion rights to Russia-Ukraine war to Capitol riots; key issues taken up in first face-off
Trump-Harris Debate: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris clashed in one of the most heated debates in US election history. The debate began with mutual respect and a handshake before escalating into anger, resentment, and speaking out of turn. The United States presidential candidates battled it out on the economy, trade wars, abortion rights, immigration, foreign policy, healthcare and other issues.
Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris put Republican Donald Trump on the defensive during the debate. She attacked him on abortion limits, his fitness for office, and his multiple legal woes. Meanwhile, Donald Trump was seen putting the blame for the deadly riots on Capitol Hill on then-US Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Harris, bringing in on one of Trump's biggest electoral vulnerabilities, blamed Trump for the end of national abortion rights. She slammed him on his role in appointing three U.S. Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving more than 20 states with what she dubbed "Trump abortion bans."
Harris delivered one of her most passionate responses, describing how women have been denied abortion and other emergency care, and stating that if elected, Trump will impose a national abortion ban.
On being asked if he wanted Ukraine to win the war against Russia. Trump answered, "I want the war to end and to save lives," but refused to take sides between Russia and Ukraine. Meanwhile, the vice president warned that if Trump is elected president, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be sitting in Ukraine.
"I believe Donald Trump claims this war will be ended in 24 hours because he is willing to give it up. If Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now," Kamala stated.
"Putin would be sitting in Kyiv with his eyes on the rest of Europe, starting with Poland," Harris stated, highlighting "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."
While acknowledging protesters going towards the Capitol before his supporters ignited a riot there on January 6, 2021, Trump advised them to march "peacefully and patriotically".
Trump went on to say that the rioters who were prosecuted and sentenced to jail were "treated so badly" by the court system.
He even denied recent remarks in which he appeared to accept defeat in the 2020 election, including the remark that he "lost by a whisker."
"I said that?" Trump stated.
"Are you now acknowledging that you lost in 2020?" ABC News moderator David Muir inquired. "No I don't acknowledge that at all," he replied." "That was said sarcastically."
Harris slammed Trump's intention to slap high tariffs on imported goods, comparing it to a sales tax on the middle class, while touting her plan to deliver tax relief to families.
"Donald Trump left us the worst unemployment since the Great Depression," Harris remarked, referring to his tenure as president from 2017 to 2021. "What we have done is clean up Donald Trump's mess."
Trump blamed Harris for ongoing inflation over the Biden administration's tenure, however, he exaggerated the level of price rises. He also swiftly returned to his main topic, immigration, stating without evidence that people from "insane asylums" are crossing the United States' southern border with Mexico.
Inflation, he claimed, "has been a disaster for people, the middle class, and every class."
- PTC NEWS
