The first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, held on September 10, 2024, has been widely perceived as a victory for Harris, potentially reshaping the dynamics of the upcoming election. Throughout the 90-minute exchange, Harris employed a strategy of provocation and sharp attacks that kept Trump on the defensive, effectively using her prosecutorial skills to highlight his weaknesses and inconsistencies.Harris presented herself as a competent leader focused on the future, emphasizing her commitment to an ‘economy of opportunities’ and making passionate appeals on issues such as abortion rights. She effectively used Trump’s own words against him, citing some of his conspiracy theories and pointing out his false claims. Harris also criticized Trump’s handling of international relations, accusing him of being friendly with autocrats and dictators.Trump, on the other hand, struggled to maintain composure and often resorted to personal attacks and unsubstantiated claims. He accused Harris of being a ‘Marxist’ and claimed that under her presidency, Israel ‘would not exist in two years’. Trump’s performance was characterized by some analysts as ‘self-centered hysteria,’ as he repeatedly returned to familiar talking points about immigration and voter fraud.The debate covered a broad range of topics, including the economy, abortion rights, immigration, and foreign policy. On abortion, Harris made an emotional appeal to families who have faced complications during pregnancy, calling Trump’s stance ‘an insult to women in America’. The candidates also clashed on immigration, with Trump making a controversial and false claim about immigrants in Ohio eating people’s pets.Post-debate polls and media analysis overwhelmingly favored Harris’s performance. A CNN poll found that 63% of viewers believed Harris won the debate, compared to 37% for Trump. Even traditionally conservative outlets like Fox News acknowledged Harris as the ‘big winner’ of the debate.In a significant development following the debate, pop star Taylor Swift publicly endorsed Harris on Instagram, potentially influencing key swing states. This endorsement could have substantial implications for the campaign, given Swift’s large and engaged fan base.While the debate was seen as a clear victory for Harris, analysts caution that debate performance doesn’t always translate to electoral success. The impact of this debate on the overall election outcome remains to be seen, with both campaigns likely to adjust their strategies in the coming weeks.
Key points
- Kamala Harris was widely perceived as the winner of the first presidential debate against Donald Trump.
- Harris effectively kept Trump on the defensive throughout the debate, using provocative tactics and sharp attacks.
- Post-debate polls showed a significant majority of viewers favoring Harris’s performance.
- Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris post-debate could potentially influence key swing states.
Contradictions👾While most sources reported Harris as the clear winner, Trump claimed it was his ‘best presidential debate ever’, contradicting the general consensus.
