Both Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Front-runner Donald Trump aimed to leave a lasting impression at their first presidential debate on Tuesday.
The 59-year-old Harris criticized Trump’s idea for steep tariffs on imports, comparing it to a sales tax on the middle class, and highlighted her own proposal for tax breaks for small companies and families.
She held Trump accountable for the high jobless rates that existed under his administration.
Though he inflated the price increases, Trump, 78, retaliated by criticizing the Biden administration’s management of inflation.
His attention moved to immigration, and he made unfounded allegations about people entering the US from “insane asylums” breaching the border with Mexico.
The candidates shook hands to open the discussion, which got underway at 9 p.m. ET (0100 GMT) on Wednesday. This is the first time that has happened in a presidential debate since 2016.
The discussion gave both candidates a crucial opportunity to sway voters as the election on November 5 draws near and early voting gets underway.
Harris, who entered the race just seven weeks ago when President Joe Biden left, presented a compelling argument against state prohibitions on abortion, citing the effects they would have on women and incest victims.
She also said that Trump favors a nationwide ban on abortion, a charge that Trump refuted, saying that Harris and Democrats back infanticide, which is against the law.
Harris linked Trump to Project 2025, a right-wing policy proposal that calls for more presidential authority among other things.
The project’s creators included several of Trump’s advisors, but he rejected the connection.
In the first half hour, Trump refrained from using personal jabs, but he thereafter called Harris a “Marxist,” which caused her to respond.
Despite gains in all areas this year, Trump’s staff had recommended him to concentrate on immigration and inflation.
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia hosted the discussion, which was emceed by ABC News and had muted microphones while the speakers weren’t speaking.
While Trump depended on informal preparation and counsel from former Democratic congressman Tulsi Gabbard, who claimed Trump would see Harris like any other competitor, Harris prepared diligently in Pittsburgh.
