U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump engaged in a fierce debate on Wednesday, clashing over a range of issues including the economy, abortion rights, and foreign policy.
The ABC News-hosted event, held without an audience or notes, saw both candidates trading barbs in their first face-to-face encounter of the 2024 presidential race.
Watch the debate here:
Harris accused the Trump administration of leaving behind “the worst unemployment since the Great Depression” and “the worst assault on our democracy since the Civil War”. Trump, in turn, labelled Harris a “Marxist” and claimed she had “no plan” for the economy.
On abortion rights, Harris criticised Trump’s stance, while the former president denied he would sign a national abortion ban, citing the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.
The debate took a controversial turn when Trump made unsubstantiated claims about migrants’ behaviour in Ohio, which Harris denounced as “extreme”.
Trump also accused Democrats of an “assassination attempt” against him, alleging he “probably took a bullet to the head” due to their rhetoric. He additionally reiterated claims of fraud in the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden.
On foreign policy, Trump asserted he could end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours if re-elected. Harris countered by calling Trump a “laughingstock” among world leaders, claiming he is easily manipulated by “dictators”.
In their closing statements, Harris emphasised moving forward, stating, “We’re not going back,” while Trump questioned Harris’s record during her time as vice president.
The debate, moderated by Linsey Davis and David Muir, included fact-checking interventions by the moderators.
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