Kamala Harris, Donald Trump clash in heated first debate ahead of election

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump went head-to-head in a fiery presidential debate on September 10 night in Philadelphia, marking their first direct confrontation as the November election approaches. With less than two months until voters head to the polls, both candidates sought to sway undecided voters with sharp exchanges on issues ranging from the economy to immigration.

Heading into the debate, Harris appeared to face both high expectations and potential risks. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll found that 28% of respondents said they "need to learn more" about Harris, while only 9% said the same about Trump. The poll showed Trump with a slight 1-point lead over Harris among likely voters, though 5% remain undecided, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The debate quickly became a battleground as Harris aimed to portray herself as a pragmatic leader, while Trump cast his opponent as a radical. Harris accused Trump of lacking the ability to engage his supporters, saying, “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.”

Trump, in response, criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the economy. “I’ve never seen a worse period of time,” he said, while defending his economic policies, including tariffs. Trump went on to accuse Harris of being “a Marxist” and even joked, “I was going to send her a MAGA hat.”

Both candidates claim change

Both candidates sought to embody change in a political landscape that remains polarized. Harris characterized Trump’s rhetoric as “the same old, tired playbook: a bunch of lies, grievances, and name-calling." She argued that Trump’s re-election would mean a continuation of chaos, particularly referring to Project 2025, a conservative policy initiative tied to the former president. “Let’s turn the page on this. Let’s not go back,” she urged.

Trump attempted to pin Harris to the legacy of Joe Biden, stating, “These are the people that she and Biden led into our country, and they’re destroying our country. They’re dangerous.” He also framed Harris as a candidate who would perpetuate economic policies that harm the working class.

Policy shifts under scrutiny

Harris’ past stances on controversial issues like fracking and gun control were a focal point of the debate, with Trump attempting to highlight what he saw as inconsistencies. Harris defended her record, stating, “I made that very clear in 2020, I will not ban fracking.” She emphasized her role in passing the Inflation Reduction Act, which opened new leases for fracking. “My values have not changed,” she added.

Trump didn’t hold back, accusing Harris of pursuing far-left policies. “She wants to confiscate your guns, and she will never allow fracking in Pennsylvania,” he declared.

Abortion rights: A point of tension

Abortion became a central issue in the debate, with Harris pressing Trump on whether he would veto a federal abortion ban. Trump sidestepped the question twice, stating, “Well, I won’t have to,” and arguing that “everybody” is content with the current state of abortion laws post-Roe v. Wade. When Harris pledged to sign a bill restoring Roe v. Wade protections if elected, Trump dismissed the likelihood of any major federal abortion legislation passing under his leadership.

Missed opportunities and heated exchanges

At several moments, Harris managed to draw Trump into defending his record, particularly on issues such as abortion and immigration. She criticized him for his praise of Chinese President Xi Jinping during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and used the opportunity to point out his tendency to focus on bizarre tangents at his rallies. “He talks about fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter,” she said. “And what you will also notice is that people start leaving his rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom.”

Trump fired back, defending his rallies as “the most incredible in the history of politics” and reiterating debunked conspiracy theories about migrants, stating, “They’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats.”

Final jabs

In the closing stages of the debate, Trump shifted his attacks to President Joe Biden, accusing him of leading a divisive presidency. “We don’t even know if he’s the president,” Trump said. “They threw him out of a campaign like a dog.”

Harris, in a sharp rebuttal, reminded Trump, “You’re not running against Joe Biden; you are running against me.” In a final attempt to distinguish herself, Harris declared, “Clearly, I am not Joe Biden. And I am certainly not Donald Trump.”

As the race intensifies, both candidates will continue vying for the undecided voters who could be the key to victory in the closely watched election.