Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, participated in a televised debate hosted by ABC at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They both made statements during the event. Yonhap News
In a pivotal moment for the U.S. presidential race, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced off for the first time in a televised debate on Tuesday night. The debate began at ABC News at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. and saw both candidates engaging in sharp attacks on each other, particularly over economic issues.
The debate opened with a handshake between Trump and Harris, a notable contrast to their predecessors’ first debate in June, where President Joe Biden and Trump did not exchange pleasantries before their discussion.
The initial focus was on the economy and inflation—topics at the top of American voters’ minds. Harris took a firm stance against Trump, criticizing his economic record. She remarked, “Trump left us the worst unemployment since the Great Depression.” Harris underscored her commitment to the middle class, claiming, “I was raised as a middle-class kid, and I am actually the only person on this stage who has a plan that is about lifting up the middle class and working people of America.” She also criticized Trump’s policies as merely “tax cuts for the richest.”
Furthermore, Harris attacked Trump’s proposal for high tariffs on Chinese imports, describing it as a value-added tax on the middle class. She argued that Trump’s approach primarily benefits billionaires at the expense of the working class, contrasting this with her own plan to support middle-class families.
In response, Trump downplayed the effect of tariffs on rising prices, attributing inflation to longstanding economic issues with countries such as China. He remarked that if Harris opposed tariffs, she should have eliminated them, emphasizing that the Biden administration has continued his tariff policies, generating billions in revenue.
Trump also accused Harris of perpetuating inflation, asserting that the problem has persisted throughout the Biden administration and “has been a disaster for people, for the middle class, for every class.”He further criticized Harris personally, labeling her a “Marxist” and referencing her academic background. In contrast, Harris responded with a smile and a nonchalant shrug.
This debate represents the first direct confrontation between Trump and Harris since she became the Democratic nominee. With Election Day just 56 days away, this exchange could prove crucial in swaying undecided and moderate voters in a tightly contested race.
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