The debate featured tense arguments and ended with a Taylor Swift endorsement

WASHINGTON (AP) — On Tuesday night, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris squared off on the debate platform for what could be their final meeting.

The vice president for the Democratic Party made a bold move to start the debate by advancing across the platform to shake hands with Trump.

The two of them had never met before, so she introduced herself as “Kamala Harris.”. Let us engage in a stimulating discussion. “.

It’s good to see you. Enjoy yourself,” the outgoing Republican president retorted.

The 90-minute debate began with an exchange that set the tone: Harris occasionally controlled the discourse by making fun of Trump’s economic policies, his inability to accept his loss in the 2020 election, and even his appearance at rallies.

Initially calm, Trump became increasingly irritated as the evening wore on. And one crucial moment occurred when Taylor Swift, the superstar, declared she would vote for Harris after the two candidates exited the stage.

Several conclusions from a momentous debate:.

In a manner that Biden was unable to match, Harris confronted Trump right away during the first handshake.

The former prosecutor claimed that the middle class would essentially be subject to a sales tax as a result of Trump’s tariffs in her initial response. She soon charged that Trump was in charge of the Capitol riot on January, which was the worst assault on American democracy since the Civil War. June 6, 2021. She tasked him with advising women on what to do with their bodies. She also made fun of Trump’s admiration for autocrats “who would eat you for lunch.”. “.

With these kinds of attacks, Harris managed to steer a good deal of the conversation and provoked Trump into answers that alternated between venting and serving as a reminder of his outrageous rhetoric and obsession with the past.

Regarding the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden but maintains he won, Harris stated, “You did in fact lose that election.”. She cited Biden’s winning vote total, saying, “81 million people fired Donald Trump.”.

Though Harris’ criticism of her opponent’s performance at his rallies—pointing out that many attendees leave early—may have irritated him the most.

Trump, looking visibly agitated, insisted that his rallies were bigger than hers.

Harris, always grinning, repeatedly redirected her message from Trump to the people of the United States.

It is unlikely that he will discuss your needs, dreams, needs, or desires, according to Harris. And I’ll tell you what, I think you should have a president who genuinely prioritizes you. “.

Harris was given a moniker by Trump: “She is Biden.”.

Although Trump frequently played defense, he did spearhead the campaign’s central theme, which was that immigrants and inflation are severely hurting Americans.

Trump claimed that immigrants had “destroyed the fabric of our country.”. “.

He connected Harris and Biden repeatedly.

He said, “She is Biden.”.

“The worst inflation we’ve ever experienced,” Trump continued. “A terrible economy due to the extreme effects of inflation. She also cannot get away with doing that. “.

“Clearly, I am not Joe Biden, and I am certainly not Donald Trump,” Harris retorted. A new generation of leadership for our nation is what I do offer, too. “.

Trump also attacked Harris, telling people not to trust the more centrist tone she’s adopting in this campaign, citing her departure from some of the progressive stances she adopted during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.

She is now heading to my philosophy class. He said, “In fact, I was going to send her a MAGA hat,” alluding to the red baseball caps that read “Make America Great Again” that are worn by many of his supporters. “But she would change it if she were ever elected.”. “.

Swift ends his sideline career.

After the debate, one of the most important moments was captured in a post on one of the most popular Instagram accounts.

Young women, who Swift has a devoted following among, are the audience Harris needs to draw in large numbers from. While urging her followers to conduct their own research and come to their own conclusions, she referred to Harris as a “gifted leader” and said, “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice.”. “.

Harris goes after Trump on race.

The moderator of ABC, David Muir, questioned Trump directly regarding his claim made earlier in the month that Harris had “turned Black” a bit too late. Harris is South Asian and Black, having graduated from Washington’s historically Black Howard University.

President Trump attempted to minimize the issue. “You make a lot out of something, I couldn’t care less, I don’t care what she is,” Trump remarked.

With her opening remarks, Harris, however, enumerated a litany of Trump’s racial controversy: his 1970s New York apartment building discrimination settlement; his 1980s Central Park jogger case ad calling for the execution of Black and Latino teenagers who had been wrongfully arrested; and his fabrications regarding the birthplace of former President Barack Obama.

“I believe that the people in America desire something superior to that, something superior to this,” stated Harris.

Trump denied Harris’s assertions, calling them out of date and irrelevant, and charged her with attempting to “divide” people.

“This individual needs to go back 40 or 50 years because there is nothing left today,” he remarked.

Trump and Harris emphasized their stances on abortion.

Since Trump’s nominees created a majority on the Supreme Court that could overturn the constitutional right to an abortion, Harris has come out strongly in favor of abortion rights, making this perhaps the strongest issue for Democrats. President Joe Biden’s meandering remarks on the subject during their June debate with Trump were starkly contrasted with her well-reasoned arguments.

Harris stated, “A woman should not be told what to do with her body by the government or Donald Trump.”. She gave a realistic portrayal of women dealing with difficult medical decisions, traveling out of state for an abortion, and facing other challenges.

In his defense, Trump was equally adamant, claiming that he had given the matter back to the states, something that many Americans had desired. Still, he repeated the myth that Democrats continue to support abortion even after a baby is born, despite his difficulties with accuracy. Even after moderator Linsey Davis corrected him, he persisted in doing so.

“By doing that, I really served the community. Regarding the overturning of Roe v., Trump remarked, “It took courage to do it.”. Wade and the abortion rights outlined in the Constitution. And in doing so, the Supreme Court showed incredible bravery. And those six justices deserve so much credit. “.

Voters punished Republicans in recent elections for their opposition to overturning Roe, as indicated by polls.

Right now, who is speaking?

Trump redirected Harris’s talking point in her direction. That occurred when he protested after Harris cut him off.

Trump remarked, “Wait a minute, I’m talking now.”. “Sound familiar?”.

He was adding his own unique twist to a line that Harris famously used to chastise Mike Pence for interrupting during the 2020 vice presidential debate, saying, “Mr. It’s me, Vice President. “.

a communication for the midst.

Ultimately, a tiny percentage of swing voters in a select few states will determine the outcome of the election in this divided country. Harris explicitly appealed to voters from all political stripes, including Republicans, in recognition of that fact.

Her ownership of a gun was mentioned. She mentioned the “late, great John McCain,” referring to the Republican senator from Arizona and combat hero who Trump had criticized for having been captured by enemy forces. She also enumerated the numerous Republicans who now support her campaign and were part of the Trump administration.

In contrast, Trump ignored the calls for unity that framed his speech at the summer convention and made minimal effort to reach out to voters in the middle.

Harris quickly grabbed the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol to directly appeal to voters who are still undecided.

“It’s time to move on,” she declared. There’s a spot in our campaign for you if that proved to be too much of a bridge. “.

Trump was a reserved man, except when he wasn’t.

Republicans feared, and Democrats hoped, that Trump would lose his composure on stage. He didn’t at first, but as Harris grew more and more uncomfortable, he visited some dark places.

The Biden-Harris administration was allegedly admitting dangerous immigrants, according to Trump, who also spread false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were eating pets (local officials deny this, as ABC’s Muir pointed out).

Trump erupted again when Harris pressed him about the numerous criminal and civil cases that were brought against him. He claimed that Biden and Harris had fabricated every instance.

Trump made reference to the July assassination attempt by an unidentified gunman, saying, “I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things they said about me.”.

When asked if he was responsible for the Capitol riot, Trump became agitated and criticized Democratic Rep. the Democratic mayor of Washington and Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House at the time from California. He again denied losing the 2020 election and claimed the rioters had “been treated so badly.”.

In response, Harris said, “Let’s be clear: Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people, and it’s obvious he’s having a very hard time processing that.”. “.

a preliminary economic battle.

An unexpectedly erratic exchange about the economy opened the debate. Harris criticized Trump for his proposed imposition of broad tariffs and the trade deficit he managed while in office, while Trump attacked Harris for inflation, which he falsely claimed to be the highest in American history.

According to Trump, the economy did well during his presidency. In our nation’s history, I built one of the greatest economies ever,” he declared. “Donald Trump has no plan for you,” Harris boldly declared to the audience. “.

An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs poll conducted in August found that when it comes to managing the economy, Americans are slightly more likely to trust Trump than Harris.

Gender is a secondary consideration.

The first female president of the country would be Harris. However, during the debate, her gender was not given much consideration.

The historical significance of her candidacy escaped her notice. Trump didn’t either.

Furthermore, gender was never a factor in any performative moments. Not to mention calling Hillary Clinton a “nasty woman” and endorsing her during a 2016 debate, who could forget Trump’s actions? Clinton later declared herself to be “creeped out.”.

However, on Tuesday night, as directed, both candidates remained behind their podiums, and there were no overt gender-related jokes.

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