The first televised debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump marked a pivotal moment in the 2024 US presidential elections. The debate, moderated by ABC News, saw both candidates vigorously debating key issues such as immigration, abortion, and diplomacy. The debate was a stark contrast to the earlier one in Atlanta, where President Joe Biden’s performance led to his withdrawal from the race, paving the way for Harris’s ascension. Both Harris and Trump were well-prepared, often interrupting each other despite the rules set to maintain decorum. Harris frequently baited Trump on various issues, leading to several heated exchanges.
One of the early and most intense clashes was over abortion. Harris criticized Trump for the Supreme Court’s decision, influenced by his nominees, to overturn federal abortion protections. Trump attempted to moderate his position by arguing that the issue had been returned to the states, claiming he had performed a great service by doing so. Harris countered by highlighting the real-world consequences of the ruling, including the denial of emergency care to women suffering from miscarriages due to fear of legal repercussions.
Immigration was another contentious topic. Trump repeated debunked conspiracy theories about immigrants, including a claim that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were eating pets, which was quickly challenged by the moderators. Despite being confronted with the lack of evidence, Trump persisted, citing “people on television” as his sources. Harris took the opportunity to point out Trump’s reliance on misinformation and fear-mongering.
Foreign policy took a back seat in the debate but still featured prominently in the candidates’ exchanges. Harris labeled Trump as “weak and wrong” on national security and accused him of being a laughingstock among world leaders. She warned that Trump would likely cede Ukraine to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In response, Trump called Harris a “horrible negotiator” and claimed that under her leadership, Israel would cease to exist within two years.
Despite some analysts’ fears that Harris might struggle against Trump’s aggressive style, she was clearly well-prepared and managed to put her rival on the defensive. According to University of Virginia professor Larry Sabato, Harris “won hands down” and secured revenge for Biden’s earlier debate loss. Republican strategist Liam Donovan noted that Harris executed her strategy effectively, parrying the moderator’s questions and baiting Trump into angry responses. Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer described the debate as a contrast between Harris’s precision and Trump’s chaos and disinformation.
