The first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, held on September 10, 2024, has set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested U.S. election. The 90-minute exchange, marked by sharp contrasts in style and substance, covered a broad spectrum of issues including the economy, abortion rights, immigration, and foreign policy.Harris, who surprised Trump by crossing the stage to shake his hand at the outset, was widely perceived as delivering a strong performance. She effectively countered Trump’s attacks, presenting herself as a capable leader focused on the future. Harris emphasized her commitment to creating an ‘economy of opportunities’ and criticized Trump’s economic plan as potentially disastrous. She also made emotional appeals on issues such as abortion rights, describing the struggles faced by women in states with restrictive laws.Trump, on the other hand, appeared defensive and often angry, struggling to stay on message. He made several controversial statements, including a claim that immigrants in Ohio were eating people’s pets, which was promptly fact-checked and denied by officials. Trump accused Harris of being ‘the worst vice president in history’ and claimed she would turn the U.S. into ‘another Venezuela’.The debate touched on foreign policy issues as well, with Harris promising to continue supporting Ukraine and Trump refusing to answer whether he wanted Ukraine to win its conflict with Russia. Harris also criticized Trump’s handling of international relations, suggesting he would be ‘eaten alive’ by Russian President Vladimir Putin.While both candidates claimed victory, initial reactions suggest Harris may have gained an edge. According to CNN, 63% of viewers believed Harris won the debate, compared to 37% for Trump. However, analysts caution that debate performance doesn’t always translate to electoral success, with the outcome likely to depend on a small number of undecided voters.
Key points
- Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump engaged in their first presidential debate on September 10, 2024.
- Harris was generally perceived as delivering a stronger performance, effectively countering Trump’s attacks and presenting herself as a capable leader.
- Trump struggled to stay on message and made several controversial statements, including unsubstantiated claims about immigrants.
- The debate covered a wide range of topics including the economy, abortion rights, immigration, and foreign policy.
- Initial polls suggest Harris may have gained an edge, but analysts caution that debate performance doesn’t always translate to electoral success.
Contradictions👾There are conflicting reports about the exact percentage of viewers who believed Harris won the debate.
CNN reported 63% for Harris and 37% for Trump, while another source mentioned 44% of viewers saying Harris better understands their problems and 40% saying Trump is more competent on economic issues.
