Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump faced off for the first time in a high-stakes debate on Tuesday, just weeks ahead of the upcoming election.
The 90-minute debate, held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and hosted by ABC News, featured sharp exchanges and heated rhetoric on critical issues shaping the future of the country.
Harris aimed to position herself as a fresh voice in American leadership, while Trump worked to portray her as an extreme Democrat and continued his criticism of the Biden administration.
Here are the key moments from the debate.
Harris Immediately Puts Trump on the Defensive Right from the start, Harris went on the offensive against Trump.
In her opening remarks, Harris said, “What we’ve done, and what I plan to continue doing, is building on the hopes and dreams of the American people.” She then warned the audience: “You’ll hear the same old playbook tonight — lies, grievances, and name-calling.”
Taking aim at Trump’s rallies, Harris joked that attendees often leave early out of “exhaustion” from his lengthy speeches, which sometimes include bizarre references like windmills causing cancer. Trump shot back, boasting about the size and enthusiasm of his rally crowds, calling them the “biggest” and “most incredible” in political history.
When Trump brought up rising crime rates, Harris quipped that his comments were "rich" coming from someone facing multiple criminal charges — a reference to Trump’s legal battles, which he denies.
Trump Sticks to His Criticism of Biden Trump found it difficult to adjust his message with Harris now at the top of the Democratic ticket, continuing to hammer away at President Joe Biden’s record. He accused Harris of being tied to what he called Biden's failures, particularly on issues like the economy, immigration, and foreign policy.
“She is Biden,” Trump said. “Worst inflation ever, a terrible economy, and she can’t escape that.”
Harris responded sharply, saying, "I am not Joe Biden, and I’m certainly not Donald Trump. What I bring is a new generation of leadership."
After the debate, Trump told reporters that Harris failed to distance herself from Biden’s policies. “She tried, but she couldn’t pull it off,” he said.
Did Harris Connect with Voters? A central question going into the debate was whether Harris would effectively introduce herself to voters who feel they don’t know much about her. Recent polls show that many Americans, particularly independents, say they need more information about Harris as a candidate.
During the debate, Harris spoke about her upbringing in a middle-class family and highlighted her career as a prosecutor and senator. She also emphasized her support for key policies like reproductive rights, expanding the Child Tax Credit, and helping first-time homebuyers.
Harris sought to draw a clear contrast between her vision for the future and Trump’s, saying, "I offer a new generation of leadership that believes in what we can achieve, rather than tearing down the American people."
Trump, on the other hand, labeled her a “radical left liberal” and pressed her on issues like police funding and fracking, areas where Harris has shifted her positions since her 2019 primary campaign.
Trump Still Refuses to Admit 2020 Loss At one point, Trump was asked to clarify recent comments where he appeared to suggest he had lost the 2020 election by a narrow margin, even saying he "lost by a whisker."
When the moderator quoted him, Trump responded, “Did I say that?”
Asked whether he would finally acknowledge that he lost the 2020 race, Trump bluntly denied it. “No, I don’t acknowledge that at all,” he said, adding that his earlier comment was meant sarcastically.
When questioned about the peaceful transfer of power, Trump reiterated that he had "nothing" to do with the events of January 6, 2021, when a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Race Takes Center Stage, But Not Gender While gender was not a major topic during the debate, race came up as Trump faced questions about his past false claims regarding Harris’ racial identity.
When pressed about comments suggesting Harris "turned Black," Trump dismissed the issue, saying, "I don’t care what she is. Whatever she wants to be is fine with me."
Harris did not focus on herself but instead attacked Trump’s long history of racial controversy, including his promotion of false birther claims about former President Barack Obama and past accusations of housing discrimination against Black tenants.
"It’s tragic that we have someone running for president who has consistently tried to divide this country by race," Harris said. "The American people deserve better."
Trump fired back, labeling his presidency the most divisive in U.S. history, and argued that he was being unfairly painted as racist.
This debate was just one of many key moments leading up to the election, but both candidates used the opportunity to sharply differentiate their visions for the future of the country.
News Source: ABC News