Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris discussed economy, border crisis, abortion rights and Project 2025 at the presidential debate on Tuesday. The ABC News-hosted event in Philadelphia offered Americans their most detailed look at a campaign that’s dramatically changed since the last debate in June. Afghanistan withdrawal, Israel-Hamas war, immigration and other controversies were discussed.
Highlights of the debate:
Kamala 'Black' Controversy:
Trump was asked about his controversial statements, questioning Kamala Harris' racial identity.
Trump replied, "I don't care what she is.
Harris said: "I think it’s a tragedy that we have someone who wants to be president who has consistently over the course of his career attempted to use race to divide the American people."
Afghanistan:
Harris said she agreed with President Joe Biden’s decision to pull US troops out of Afghanistan in 2021. “Four presidents said they would and Joe Biden did,” she said.
Kamala Harris further said that Trump invited the Taliban to the presidential retreat at Camp David.
Trump responded: "I got involved with the Taliban because the Taliban was doing the killing." The former president added that the dead that led to the withdrawal was a good one.
"They blew it," he said of the Biden administration.
Trump Brings Up 'World War 3':
Speaking about the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Trump said that the Biden-Harris administration is to blame for the situation in Europe. The Republican nominee further warned that if Kamala Harris wins in November, US will go to 'World War 3'.
Israel-Hamas War:
Trump was asked how he would end the conflict in Gaza. He said the war would have 'never started' if he were still president.
"She hates Israel. If she is president I believe that Israel will not exist in two years from now," he added. "I will get that settled and fast."
Kamala Harris: 'Your officials decry you'
The VP said that Trump lacks support from people who once worked for him. “If you want to really know the inside track on who the former president is — if he didn’t make it clear already — just ask people who have worked with him,” Harris said.
Rally size:
Harris invited people to attend one of former President Donald Trump’s rallies. “You will see during the course of his rallies, he talks about fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter, he will talk about windmills cause cancer and what you will also notice is that people start leaving his rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom. And I will tell you the one thing you will not hear him talk about is you. You will not hear him talk about your needs, your dreams and your desires,” she said.
Immigration:
Kamala Harris said she is 'the only person on this stage' to prosecute smugglers. She blamed Trump for tanking a bipartisan border security bill.
"You know what happened? Donald Trump got on the phone to some folks in Congress and said kill the bill. Why? Because he preferred to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem."
Trump Brings Up False 'Dog-Eating' Claim:
Donald Trump spoke about Haitian immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. He was immediately fact-checked by moderators.
"They're eating the dogs. They're eating the pets of the people that live there," Trump said.
Abortion:
Kamala Harris: “I pledge to you that when Congress passes a bill to put back in place the protections of Roe v. Wade, as President of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.”
She further added that US citizens do not have to 'abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government and Donald Trump certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with her body'.
Former President Donald Trump said that he would not sign a national abortion ban.
Project 2025:
As Kamala Harris spoke about Trump allegedly following a document named 'Project 2025', the former president denied even seeing the said document.
“I have nothing to do with Project 2025,” he said. “That’s out there. I haven’t read it. I don’t want to read it, purposely. I’m not going to read it.”
On Economy:
Kamala Harris: "Let's talk about what Donald Trump left us. Donald Trump left us the worst unemployment since the great depression. Donald Trump left us the worst public health epidemic in a century. Donald Trump left us the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War. And what we have done is clean up Donald Trump's mess."
Awkward Handshake:
Kamala Harris initiated what was visibly an awkward handshake at the debate stage.
THIS WAS THE MOST AWKWARD HANDSHAKE OF ALL TIME LMFAOOOOOOOOO#Debate2024pic.twitter.com/lml4NvsErU
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) September 11, 2024
Trump, Harris arrive at venue:
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris arrived at the debate venue minutes before the event kicks off. The former president was joined on his plane by the far-right activist Laura Loomer, a controversial figure who has become one of his most loyal advocates on social media.
Who are the debate moderators?
The Harris-Trump debate is happening on ABC News and is hosted by two of its news personalities – David Muir and Linsey Davis.