The first televised debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris aired on ABC last night, attracting millions of viewers eager to witness the high-stakes clash. The event began with a formal handshake between the two candidates, signaling a moment of decorum before the debate quickly descended into heated exchanges.
Both candidates came prepared for confrontation, with Harris immediately addressing the former president’s controversial actions during his time in office, specifically his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the January 6th Capitol riots. Trump, in turn, criticized the current administration’s economic policies, claiming that inflation and rising interest rates are a result of “Bidenomics.”
Although they shook hands at the beginning of the debate, its continuation was marked by numerous accusations, and Donald Trump was the first to start with them already at the beginning of the debate.
“We have inflation like few people have seen before. Probably the worst in our nation’s history. On top of that, millions of people are pouring into our country from prisons from mental institutions and insane asylums. And they are coming in and taking the jobs that are currently held by African Americans and Hispanics, as well as our unions. These are the people she and Biden let into our country,” Trump said.
After that, the presenters returned the story to the economy, which was the topic.
“Trump left us with the worst unemployment since the Great Depression. He left us with the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War. What we’ve done is cleaned up the mess in his wake. What you’re going to hear from him tonight is the old stories, the crowd. lies and a dangerous plan called Project 2025,” Harris said.
Everything that Harris accused him of, Trump denied.
“I have nothing to do with Project 2025. It’s a group of people who got together with some ideas. Everyone knows what I’m going to do. I’m going to create the best economy. We had the biggest economy,” Trump said.
He also announced that he would return tariffs for certain countries and accused Harris of being a Marxist.
“She is a Marxist. Her father is a Marxist professor of economics. He taught her well. She destroyed our country with crazy politics,” he said.
After that, the candidates moved on to the topic of abortion and border security.
“I am the only person who has prosecuted transnational criminal organizations for arms and human trafficking. The former president prefers to deal with the problem rather than solve it. You will see him talk about fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter during his rallies. People leave his rallies early because are boring,” Harris said.
To that, Trump replied that the Democrats have led Americans to the point that they are a failed nation.
“We have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics. It’s because people want their country back. Our country is being lost. We are a failed nation. And that happened three and a half years ago. And what, what is happening here? We’re going to end up in World War III,” Trump replied.
Then the candidates turned to topics related to foreign policy, especially the issue of Israel.
“On October 7, Hamas slaughtered 1,200 Israelis. Women were raped. Then I said that Israel has the right to defend itself. It is also true that too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. The war must stop. We will work day and night on this, but we must also have a solution with two states where we will rebuild Gaza and where the Palestinians will have security,” Harris said.
Trump, of course, talked about how the war would not have started if he had been president.
“Harris hasn’t even met with Netanyahu. She hates Israel. If she’s president, I believe Israel won’t exist two years from now. And I’ve been pretty good at predicting. Look what’s happening with the Houthis and Yemen. Look what’s happening in the Middle East. This would never happen. And I will end the war with Ukraine and Russia. I will do it before I become president,” he said.
Speaking about Ukraine, Trump referred to the relationship between European countries and his knowledge of the situation in Kiev and Moscow.
“I know Zelensky very well and I know Putin very well. I have a good relationship. And they respect your president. Okay? They respect me. They don’t respect Biden. How would you respect him? Why? For what reason? He hasn’t even called on the phone in two years Putin. He didn’t even try to get him. It’s a dying war. If I win, that’s what I’ll do is that I will talk to one, I will talk to the other, I will bring them together. Don’t be fooled, we are playing with the third world war right now,” he said.
On the other hand, Harris answered him.
“If Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kiev right now. Putin’s agenda is not only about Ukraine. It also includes Poland. The American people have the right to rely on a president who understands the significance of America’s role and responsibility in terms of ensuring stability and ensuring that we stand for our principles and do not sell them in favor of personal flattery,” she stated.
The end of the debate was marked by closing remarks.
“I think you’ve heard two very different visions for our country tonight. One that’s focused on the future and one that’s focused on the past. And try to take us back. But we’re not going back. And I believe the American people know that everyone we have much more in common than what separates us and that we can chart a new path forward. And that vision includes having a plan, understanding the aspirations, the dreams, the hopes, the ambitions of the American people, which is why I intend to create an economy of opportunity, investing in small businesses, in new families , in what we can do about protecting the elderly, what we can do is give hard-working people a break in the cost of living,” Harris said.
Trump, on the other hand, said that the USA cannot sacrifice itself because of a bad vision.
“We are a nation in free fall. We are laughed at around the world. I know the leaders very well. There are wars in the Middle East, we have a war in Ukraine. We will end up in World War III. It will be a war like no other because nuclear weapons. We now have the worst president in the history of our country,” Trump concluded.
The debate moderators struggled to maintain control as interruptions became frequent. At one point, Harris called out Trump for what she described as “fearmongering,” to which Trump responded by labeling her the “most ineffective Vice President in U.S. history.”
Despite the chaos, both candidates had moments to outline their platforms. Harris emphasized the administration’s investments in infrastructure and clean energy, while Trump focused on promises of deregulation, job creation, and a crackdown on immigration.
As the debate ended, many viewers were left questioning whether either candidate swayed undecided voters, but one thing is clear: this is just the beginning of a fiercely competitive race for the White House.
Polls following the debate showed a divided reaction, with supporters of each camp claiming victory, though independents largely remained undecided. With more debates to follow, this face-off is expected to set the tone for the upcoming election cycle.
