Kamala Harris and Donald Trump clashed in a tense debate. Harris attacked Trump’s fitness for office, stance on abortion, and legal issues. She controlled the debate and provoked Trump into making angry, false statements. At one point, she joked that people leave his rallies because they are “exhausted and bored.”
Frustrated by Harris’ large crowds, Trump made a false claim about immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. He said they were eating pets, a claim pushed by his running mate, JD Vance. Trump shouted, “They’re eating the dogs!” as Harris laughed. He added, “They’re eating the cats! They’re eating people’s pets!”
Kamala aimed to provoke Trump into viral moments, according to her advisors. With eight weeks until the election, this debate played a crucial role. It may be the only debate. The topics covered included immigration, foreign policy, and healthcare, but specific details were scarce. Wall Street stayed anxious due to the lack of clarity on key issues. Betting markets shifted in Harris’ favor. Her strong performance kept the spotlight on Trump. Her allies felt pleased, while some Republicans admitted Trump struggled.
Trump’s Controversial Claims
Trump repeated false claims about election fraud in 2020. He labeled Harris a “Marxist” and falsely accused migrants of causing a crime wave. Marc Short, Mike Pence’s former chief of staff, criticized Trump. He noted that Trump missed a chance to focus on the economy and border issues. Instead, Trump got sidetracked by Harris’ provocations.
After the debate, pop star Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala and Tim Walz on Instagram. She joked about being a “childless cat lady,” poking fun at remarks by Senator Vance. The online betting site PredictIt showed Trump’s chances drop from 52% to 47%, while Harris’ odds rose from 53% to 55%.
Harris’ campaign, confident in her performance, challenged Trump to another debate. Trump entered the “spin room” afterward, stating, “This was my best debate.” However, undecided voters still remain unsure if Harris is the better candidate.
When asked about a second debate, Trump responded, “She wants it because she lost.” He added, “Why should I do another debate?” In the past, Trump often attacked Harris with racist and sexist remarks. In this debate, he avoided most of these attacks but became more agitated as the debate progressed.
When questioned about a previous remark where he said Harris had “recently become a Black person,” Trump shrugged it off, saying, “Whatever she wants to be is okay with me.” Harris, who is Black and South Asian, condemned Trump for using race to divide Americans.
Harris also criticized Trump for his criminal conviction over hush money payments. She highlighted his other indictments and a civil judgment for sexual assault. Trump denied any wrongdoing and accused Kamala and Democrats of setting him up.
The debate began at 9 PM with a surprise handshake, marking the first such gesture in a presidential debate since 2016. For Harris, this moment was significant. Polls show many voters feel they don’t know enough about her. She entered the race seven weeks ago after President Joe Biden stepped down.
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