The debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes, was held from 9:00 PM and aroused a lot of interest. During the debate, Kamala Harris adopted a calm and composed attitude, seeking to present her arguments in a structured and factual manner. She often smiled and used a conciliatory tone, even when criticizing Trump’s policies. In contrast, Donald Trump has been more aggressive and combative, frequently interrupting Harris and using a more accusatory tone. He gesticulated expressively to emphasize his points and often personally attacked Harris and the Biden-Harris administration.
This debate was crucial for Harris, as she had to prove that she can occupy the White House. She repeatedly stressed to Trump that she was not Joe Biden and sought to assert herself as a potential leader, moving away from her image as a mere vice president. The debate was marked by several key moments, which influenced the perception of the candidates and could have an impact on the vote of the undecided. Just in case you were one of those who preferred that night to watch entertainment, here are the main points discussed during the debate:
1. The economy and inflation: Trump attacked the current administration over rising inflation, accusing Harris and Biden of mishandling the U.S. economy. Harris responded by highlighting his administration’s efforts to stabilize the post-pandemic economy, emphasizing job creation and infrastructure investment.
2. Immigration and crime: One of the most controversial moments came when Trump brought up a conspiracy theory about immigrants in Ohio, claiming they ate pets. Harris immediately dismissed the claims, calling « bizarre » by observers, and turned the discussion toward a more humane and practical approach to immigration reform.
3. Trump Convictions and Controversies: Harris has criticized Trump over his numerous criminal convictions and court cases, including tax fraud cases and the attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. Trump has tried to defend himself, but his answers have often appeared confusing and far removed from the central topics of the debate.
4. Women’s rights and abortion: The debate touched on key topics like abortion, where Trump criticized Harris’ stance, while nuanced his own line on the subject so as not to alienate moderate Republican women voters. Harris, for her part, reiterated her desire to restore Roe v. Wade. Harris addressed the issue of women’s rights, including the right to abortion, directly attacking the positions of Trump and the Republican Party. She stressed that women’s freedom of choice was in danger with the return of a Trump administration, which was a strong point of her argument with women voters.
5. National unity: Harris sought to pose as a candidate of unity, saying there were « more things that unite Americans than divide them. » She tried to rally voters by pointing to the divisions that Trump would have exacerbated during and after his presidency.
The exchanges also touched on topics such as foreign policy, where Harris accused Trump of being manipulated by dictators, and Trump claimed that Harris’ policies would lead to the destruction of Israel. Foreign policy exchanges were also tense, with Harris accusing Trump of weakening U.S. alliances, while Trump claimed the Biden-Harris administration had been too accommodating to adversaries like China, which saw its exports to the U.S. rise 15% in 2023. Trump calls Viktor Orban a great leader, he also defended Putin. He was not shy talking about his admiration for authoritarian and dictators.
All in all, Trump was evasive, did not articulate any policy while Harris was focused on making people lives better through a series of policy ideas. It was a big win for Harris.
In conclusion, Harris managed to stay on the offensive while exposing Trump’s weaknesses, including his legal controversies, and polarizing positions. Trump, on the other hand, has struggled to articulate coherent responses on important topics like the economy and immigration, which has hurt his overall performance. This debate could well mark a turning point in the 2024 presidential race.
Carlo W Paul
cwpolo@aol.com