Trump vs Harris US Presidential Debate Highlights: Curtains down on high-stakes debate; no handshake this time

In his closing remarks, Trump challenged Harris on her track record, questioning why her proposed plans haven't been enacted during her time in office. “She’s going to do all these wonderful things,” Trump said. “Why hasn’t she done it? They’ve had three and a half years to fix the border, create jobs, and address all the issues we talked about.”

Trump concluded by denouncing the Biden-Harris administration as the worst in U.S. history.

In her closing statement, Vice President Harris stressed her campaign’s focus on the future, contrasting it with former President Donald Trump’s preoccupation with past issues. Reiterating a central campaign theme, Harris stated, “We’re not going back.”

In the debate, Harris pledged to continue strengthening the Affordable Care Act (ACA) but did not present a detailed healthcare plan. Meanwhile, Trump, who has aimed to repeal the ACA, was vague about his future healthcare strategy. Harris slammed Trump for lacking a clear plan, saying, "You have no plan."

Harris defended President Biden's decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, highlighting the significant cost savings of $300 million a day to taxpayers. She slammed former Trump for his "weak, terrible deal" with the Taliban, which, according to Harris, undermined the US-backed Afghan government.

Harris slammed Trump during the debate, alleging that dictators and autocrats are actively rooting for his return to the presidency. She accused Trump of being easily manipulated by flattery and favors, and claimed that many military leaders who once worked with him now consider him a "disgrace."

Harris reiterated her point by referring to former Trump officials, including military leaders, who have since become vocal critics of the former president.

Harris condemns Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election, highlighting that a president should not seek to undermine the will of the American people. She slammed him for denying court rulings on the election results, questioning his grasp of facts and his temperament.

“We cannot have a president who attempts, as he did in the past, to upend the will of the people,” she remarked.

Harris also noted that world leaders are “laughing” at Trump, suggesting a lack of respect for his leadership.

Vice President Harris highlighted her presence at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the legislature. She condemned Trump for inciting the attack and linked it to his previous responses to white supremacist events and his "stand back and stand by" comment to the Proud Boys.

“So for everyone watching who remembers what January 6 was, I say, we don’t have to go back. Let’s not go back,” she remarked.

The former president claims that Democrats’ rhetoric against him incited the attempt on his life in July, when he was shot in the ear. "I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things that they say about me," Trump said, accusing them of being the true threat to democracy.

In response to Harris's attack over his criminal prosecutions, Trump inaccurately claimed that all his cases were initiated by "them," pointing directly at Harris.

Harris, drawing on her background as a former prosecutor, has reminded viewers of Trump’s status as a convicted felon and his upcoming court date. Highlighting this contrast between them has become a central theme in her campaign, and she brought this strategy to the debate stage.

As the debate shifts to abortion, Harris has highlighted the implications of Roe v. Wade's overturning. She promised that if Congress passes a bill to reinstate Roe v. Wade's protections, she would sign it into law as President. Harris warned that a Trump re-election would lead to a national abortion ban, pointing to his "Project 2025" plans.

“I think the American people believe that certain freedoms, in particular, the freedom to make decisions about one’s own body should not be made by the government,” she said.

Harris quickly shifted focus from Trump’s claims about tariffs to his broader China policy and his handling of COVID-19. She highlighted the trade deficit under his administration, stating, “Let’s be clear that the Trump administration resulted in a trade deficit, one of the highest we’ve ever seen in the history of America.” She slammed Trump’s China policy, accusing him of “selling American chips to China to help them modernise their military,” and argued that his approach undermined American interests in the global competition for the 21st century.

Trump, despite the debate's focus on the economy, persistently criticised immigration, repeatedly highlighting what he claims is an influx of migrants into the US. He also made unfounded accusations, labeling Harris as a “Marxist” and invoking her late father, calling him a “Marxist professor in economics.”

Trump swiftly shifted from the economy to attacking Harris on immigration.

Harris responded by expanding the discussion: “Let’s talk about what Donald Trump left us. He left us the worst unemployment since the Great Depression, the worst public health epidemic in a century, and the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.”

She added, “Tonight, you’re going to hear the same old grievances, lies, and name-calling.”

Former President Trump began the debate by countering Harris's claim that he supports a nationwide sales tax. Instead, he stated that he plans to increase tariffs on imports from foreign nations.

“We’ve had a terrible economy because of inflation, which is a country buster,” Trump said.

He then shifted back to his well-known anti-immigration stance, attributing the country’s economic problems to migrants.

The debate began with an awkward handshake. Harris took the first question on whether the US economy is better now than four years ago. Describing herself as a “middle-class kid,” she highlighted key elements of her economic platform, including tax cuts for new parents, aid for first-time home buyers, and support for small businesses.

“My opponent, on the other hand, plans to repeat his previous strategy of offering tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations,” Harris said.

Harris, seeking to connect with voters who remain unfamiliar with her, will emphasise key issues like abortion rights and the economy. Facing uncertainty from over a quarter of likely voters, she must clearly outline her policies and vision for the country.

The presidential debate is set to begin in 15 minutes. Both candidates have arrived in Philadelphia, and their campaign surrogates are on-site, offering spin and setting expectations for the evening’s event.

Vice President Kamala Harris has arrived at the National Constitution Center for her debate with former President Trump. As her motorcade approached, it passed a billboard reading "VOTE TRUMP," reported ABC News.

In a pivotal moment of the campaign, the debate offers a critical opportunity for Vice President Harris and former President Trump to make their cases to the American people. With the race neck-and-neck, Harris will aim to present herself as a unifying figure capable of moving past a divisive era, while Trump will focus on positioning Harris as disconnected from voters' concerns, trying to demonstrate a disciplined approach to sway undecided voters.

The candidates will stand six feet apart, with no live audience present. A virtual coin flip on Tuesday determined podium placement and the order of closing statements. Former President Trump won the toss, choosing to give the last closing statement, while Vice President Harris selected the right podium on screen, or stage left.

The debate will have no opening statements, and each candidate will have two minutes for closing remarks. For each question, both candidates will be allotted two minutes to respond, followed by a two-minute rebuttal and an additional minute for follow-up, clarification, or response.

The upcoming debate marks the first face-off between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, following weeks of personal attacks from Trump and his allies, including racist and sexist remarks. Notably, Trump's running mate JD Vance made headlines with his controversial comment about the country being run by "childless cat ladies," potentially referencing Harris's lack of biological children. While presidential debates don't always shift the course of a race, they can be pivotal—Joe Biden's poor performance against Trump in June led to the collapse of his campaign.