Five key moments from Harris-Trump debate
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The first debate handshake in eight years was initiated by Harris.
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris engaged in a heated battle during their initial debate on Tuesday night, kicking off the campaign season leading up to the presidential election in November.
The 90-minute face-off in Philadelphia was filled with a barrage of personal insults as the participants clashed over topics like abortion, immigration, and foreign relations.
Here are five important highlights:
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Trump made unfounded accusations that migrants were eating pets in Ohio.
"Great To See You!"
As they exited, Harris confidently made his way to the stage to meet Trump as he arrived at his podium.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Kamala Harris," she said, extending her hand for a handshake as they met for the very first time. "Looking forward to a great debate."
“Great to see you. Enjoy yourselves,” said the former Republican president.
This was the first time in eight years that a handshake occurred during a presidential debate.
During most of the debate, Harris kept her gaze fixed on her opponent. She frequently smirked, burst into laughter, or shook her head in disbelief as he responded to questions.
The split screen captured Trump primarily looking straight ahead while she talked, occasionally nodding his head in disagreement.
"Now I'm Speaking"
Vice President Harris, a member of the Democratic Party, took a confrontational approach right from the start. She challenged her Republican opponent and criticized him for his legal issues and his response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He consistently redirected the conversation to focus on inflation and immigration, both of which are weak spots for Harris. He claimed that the Biden-Harris administration had "ruined" the nation and referred to her as a "Marxist."
Harris made light of the number of people attending his rallies.
"She remarked that individuals are beginning to exit his rallies prematurely due to tiredness and lack of interest."
Trump responded sharply, stating, “No one attends her rallies. There’s really no incentive to be there.”
At one point, when Harris cut in on Trump, she remarked, "I'm speaking now. Does that ring a bell?" This was a nod to a response she gave during the 2020 vice-presidential debate with Mike Pence.
As Harris continued to speak over him, Trump interrupted with, "Please be quiet."
At one moment, Harris ridiculed his admiration for dictators who would take advantage of you in a heartbeat.
In the meantime, Trump suggested that President Joe Biden has a negative view of Harris.
“He despises her,” he stated. “He can’t tolerate her.”
Trump attributed the assassination attempt on him in July to intense statements made by Democrats. The gunman’s motives remain unclear.
"I likely felt the impact of their words as if I had taken a bullet to the head," he mentioned.
Harris mocks Trump regarding his 'disinterested' supporters who are walking out of his rallies.
"They're Eating The Dogs!"
In the hours leading up to the debate, social media buzzed with unfounded allegations. JD Vance, Trump's running mate, asserted that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, had been taking pets and consuming them.
Even though city officials informed the BBC that there are no trustworthy reports backing these allegations, Trump raised the issue during the debate.
"They are consuming dogs, cats, and the pets belonging to the local residents. It's truly disgraceful," he remarked.
"When it comes to extremes, Harris commented on her competitor."
You can find additional information on the Springfield allegations by visiting the BBC's fact-checking page here.
Fact-Checking Abortion Claims By Moderators
Harris's most forceful criticisms of Trump surfaced during their confrontations over abortion, which has emerged as a major priority for Democrats since the US Supreme Court revoked the constitutional right to this procedure in 2022.
Harris stated, "You don't need to give up your beliefs or faith to recognize that the government, especially Donald Trump, shouldn’t dictate what a woman can do with her own body."
She mentioned that if Trump were to win again, he would "implement a ban on abortion." She pointed to conservative states where the procedure is banned but permits certain exceptions.
Trump, who sees this topic as a potential problem for his political career, responded: "What she's claiming is completely untrue. I do not support banning abortion."
Trump emphasized once again that he is in favor of allowing exceptions for situations involving rape, incest, or when the mother's life is endangered.
At one point, Trump asserted that certain newborns were being subjected to "executions" following their delivery.
One of the moderators from ABC stepped in to verify his claim, stating, “In this country, there isn't a single state where it is permitted to kill a newborn baby.”
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Trump claimed that Harris lacked her own policies, alleging that she borrowed some of his campaign ideas. He also mentioned that he planned to send her a MAGA hat, while contending that she would not represent a change from President Biden's approach.
"She doesn't have a clear strategy," he mentioned.
"Keep this in mind, she represents Biden," he stated at another moment.
Harris responded by saying, "It's obvious that I am not Joe Biden."
During his presidency, Trump made efforts to dismantle Obamacare. Recently, he was asked what his current strategy would be to replace the Affordable Care Act.
He mentioned that he has some ideas for a plan that he believes would be an improvement if he were to win the election.
Regarding the economy, a topic that surveys indicate is advantageous for Trump, Harris consistently emphasized, "I have a strategy."
Portraying her as a far-left liberal, Trump reacted by saying, "She aims to cut funding for the police. She is looking to take away people’s guns. She intends to prohibit fracking in Pennsylvania and other locations."
Harris refuted all of these claims and stated that she possesses a firearm.
