Trump and Harris face off in first live debate: 'People entering our country are eating cats'

The two politicians, who have been directing harsh criticisms at each other for weeks, shook hands before they began answering questions at the debate program hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia.

In the program moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis, the use of pre-prepared speech texts and teleprompters was not permitted. In the program, where candidates had two minutes to speak, the parties were also granted one additional minute each for further explanations and rebuttals.

THE AMERICAN ECONOMY

Taking the first question, U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris argued that the U.S. economy is in a better position than it was four years ago. Harris said that her plans for the economy include tax credits for new parents, assistance for first-time homebuyers, and support for small businesses. Harris stated, “On the other hand, my opponent’s plan is to provide tax cuts to billionaires and large corporations, as he has done before.”

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, on the other hand, argued that the American economy is in terrible shape. Rejecting Harris’s statements, Trump said that what he wants to do for the economy is to impose higher tariffs on foreign countries. Trump said, “Our economy is in terrible shape due to inflation. Inflation is known as a country-destroying factor. Inflation tears countries apart.”

Trump said that irregular migrants are responsible for the state of the country's economy.

HARRIS DIRECTS HARSH CRITICISM AT TRUMP

Arguing that former President Donald Trump left the U.S. facing the worst unemployment figures seen since the Great Depression of 1929-1939, Harris said, “Donald Trump left behind the worst pandemic of the century. Trump left behind the worst attack on our democracy since the American Civil War.”

Harris argued that Trump has no plan for the economy, saying, “Donald Trump is more interested in defending his own interests than looking out for you.”

Harris added, “I’ll tell you right now, you’re going to hear a lot of the same old lies, grievances, and name-calling in tonight’s debate.”

TRUMP: 'TARIFFS WILL NOT CAUSE PRICE INCREASES'

Trump argued that the tariffs he wants to impose on foreign countries will not cause price increases in the market. Trump said, “The ones who will face higher prices will be China and other countries that have been ripping us off for years.”
The Republican politician said that the tariffs he implemented during his presidency worked and that these policies have been continued by the Biden administration.

TRUMP CLAIMS IRREGULAR MIGRANTS ARE EATING AMERICANS' PETS

Directing harsh criticism at Democratic candidate Harris regarding immigration, Trump claimed that irregular migrants are eating the pets of American citizens. Trump said, “They’re eating the dogs in Springfield. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”

'I WANT THE WAR TO STOP'

Responding to a question from one of the live program’s moderators, David Muir, about whether he wants Ukraine to be the winning side in the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, Trump said, “I want the war to stop. I want to save lives. Millions of people are dying. The real numbers are much worse than the fake news you hear.” Emphasizing that he has good relationships with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump stated that he would stop the war if elected, saying, “If you ask me, the greatest interest of the U.S. is to end this war, to get it done, and to reach a settlement. Because we need to put an end to all those people losing their lives.”

HARRIS: 'HERE IS ANOTHER LIE'

During his remarks on Ukraine, Trump claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris was sent as a mediator to establish peace between Ukraine and Russia but failed. Trump said, “They sent her to negotiate peace before the war started. Three days later, Russia went in and the war started. Because everything they said there was weak and stupid.”
When the program’s host asked Harris, “Have you met directly with Russian President Putin?”, Harris replied, “I said at the beginning of this debate that you would hear a lot of lies from this individual. And this is one of them.”

Stating that she has held meetings with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, not Putin, Harris expressed that America needs leaders who uphold international rules and norms.

HARRIS: 'WE ARE NOT GOING BACK'

Democratic candidate Kamala Harris used a slogan she frequently employs in her election campaign in her closing statement, saying, “We are not going back.”
Stating in the live program that America is facing two very different visions for the country, one looking toward the future and the other stuck in the past, Harris said, “But we are not going back.”

TRUMP: “WHY DOESN’T SHE DO IT?”

Donald Trump, in his closing statement, asked why Harris does not immediately implement the promises she made during her election campaign. Trump said, “They say she’s going to do this, she’s going to do that, she’s going to do all these wonderful things. So why doesn’t she do it? She’s been in office for three and a half years. They had three and a half years to fix the border. They had three and a half years to create jobs.”

TRUMP’S CAMPAIGN TEAM DECLARES VICTORY

Following the live program, Donald Trump’s campaign team claimed that the winner of the night was the Republican candidate Trump. In a statement released by Trump’s team, it was said, “We saw President Trump lay out a bold vision for America and how he will continue the successes of his first term by revitalizing the economy, securing the border, and stopping the criminals who are ravaging communities across the country.”

HARRIS’S CAMPAIGN CALLS FOR A NEW DEBATE

In a statement released by Harris’s campaign team, an invitation for a new live debate was issued. The statement said, “The American people saw the choice they will face at the ballot box this fall under the bright lights. Moving forward with Kamala Harris or going backward with Trump? They saw it tonight. They should see it in a second debate in October. Vice President Harris is ready for a second live program. Is Trump ready for it?”

News Source: İHA