Former US President, Donald Trump, and Vice President Kamala Harris faced off in their first—and potentially only—presidential debate on Tuesday.

Moderated by ABC News, the debate took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and lasted one hour and 45 minutes.

The two political heavyweights clashed on key issues ranging from abortion rights to immigration, as both candidates sought to sway voters in a tightly contested race.

Harris adopted a strategy aimed at baiting Trump, while Trump repeatedly returned to conspiracy theories and false claims.

The debate underscored the sharp contrasts between their leadership styles and visions for the country.

Recall that some months ago, Trump was initially debating the sitting president, Joe Biden, who eventually had to step down for his deputy.

The debate served as a crucial moment in the 2024 US presidential election, allowing both candidates to present their policies, contrast their views, and engage directly with each other.

Harris adopted a strategy of baiting Trump, designed to throw him off balance. Trump, meanwhile, frequently engaged with Harris’ provocations, reiterating many conspiracy theories and false claims, including about the 2020 election and immigration, says CNN.

Key Takeaways

Harris’ Strategy:

Harris meticulously prepared for the debate, consistently baiting Trump with remarks designed to provoke him. She called him “weak” and “wrong,” mocked his 2020 electoral defeat, and referred to him as a “disgrace” according to military leaders.

Harris portrayed Trump as a self-absorbed figure, contrasting her focus on middle-class Americans with his defense of billionaires and big corporations.

Trump’s Reactions and False Claims:

Trump responded to Harris with visible agitation, often deviating into rants and making numerous false claims. Among them, he repeated debunked conspiracy theories, such as migrants eating pets and Democrats supporting post-birth abortions.

Despite being fact-checked during the debate, Trump doubled down on his assertions, including his claim that the 2020 election was stolen, and he promoted a grim picture of the country’s state.

Clashes Over Abortion:

Abortion was a major issue discussed, with Harris attacking Trump for his role in overturning Roe v. Wade. She highlighted real-life consequences faced by women denied care.

Trump defended his actions, arguing that the issue of abortion was better left to individual states, but repeated false claims about Democratic support for infanticide.

Immigration and Crime:

Harris successfully steered the conversation on immigration to critique Trump’s failure on a bipartisan immigration bill. Trump, however, focused on bizarre and false narratives about migrants, deflecting from policy discussions.

Trump claimed crime was on the rise in the U.S., but this was contradicted by FBI data presented during the debate.

International Issues:

On global conflicts, neither candidate provided clear solutions for ending the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Harris highlighted Trump’s closeness to authoritarian leaders, while Trump argued he would have prevented these conflicts from occurring.

Race and Identity:

Trump was asked about past comments questioning Harris’ racial identity. He dismissed the issue, but Harris took the opportunity to address Trump’s long history of racial discrimination, including the Central Park Five case and his involvement in the birther movement against Obama.

Personal Jabs:

Harris mocked Trump for the size and entertainment value of his rally crowds, which visibly upset him. Trump defended his rally numbers, despite attempts by moderators to steer the debate back to policy.

Polling Impact:

According to CNN’s Poll of Polls, Harris and Trump were closely matched in support at 49% and 48%, respectively, before the debate.

Conclusively, the debate highlighted the differences between the two candidates, with Harris successfully baiting Trump into defensive and erratic responses, while also drawing attention to critical issues like abortion and economic inequality.

Trump focused on promoting conspiracy theories and painting a dire picture of the U.S. under Democratic leadership, but struggled to engage meaningfully on policy topics.