In the city that symbolizes American democracy and is the center of the most important swing state to conquer the White House, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump faced off in their first, and perhaps only, televised debate, presenting their contrasting visions of the United States. For the Republican candidate, a dark place, flooded with predatory immigrants stealing jobs and eating American dogs and cats; a country economically devastated, humiliated internationally, and teetering on the brink of an apocalyptic World War III.
For Harris, a nation tired but full of hope, weary of drama and division, embarrassed by a dishonest and convicted ex-president, eagerly seeking a new generation of leaders. Only on November 5th will we know which of the two candidates better interpreted the feelings of American voters, but for now, the Democrat claims victory in the debate, according to media and analysts, even from the Republican side.
Her first task was to peacefully distance herself from her president and the current administration, and at least in part, she succeeded. “I am neither Biden nor Trump, I am the leader of a new generation,” she declared, looking straight into the camera at the 28% of voters who claim not to know her well enough and do not see her as a change. She also managed to sidestep the tricky question about Afghanistan, a sore point for the Democratic White House, redirecting the focus to the tycoon who “concluded a disgraceful agreement” and “invited the Taliban to the sacred place of Camp David.”
She did not take a definitive stance on the Gaza war, reaffirming the need for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, while also assuring her support for Israel against Hamas and Tehran. She dismissed as “absurd” Trump’s accusations that she wants the destruction of the country led by Benjamin Netanyahu and accused the tycoon of “selling the U.S. to China” during his four years in the White House, culminating in the “mess” during the Covid pandemic.
The other mission of the evening was to provoke Trump and put him on the defensive, a task that, according to the vast majority of observers, even on the right, Harris seems to have accomplished. Not only did she maintain her composure throughout the 90-minute debate, but she also took some of his most aggressive expressions. Like when she accused him of being friends with dictators like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, who “cheer for him because they can manipulate him.” “If Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kiev with his eyes on Europe. You are friends with a dictator who would have you for breakfast,” the Democrat taunted, poking at the tycoon, “Foreign leaders laugh behind your back.”
Having said all that, a portion of undecided voters still doesn’t see her as a real change, according to live interviews with American media, which collected testimonies from hundreds of Americans in various swing states. On the other hand, Donald played his cards on immigration and the economy, Harris’s weak points that Trump could have exploited better. “I created one of the strongest economies in history and I will do it again,” declared the former president. The economy issue, where Trump is still considered more reliable than his opponent by 50% of Americans, according to CNN. However, the Republican slipped up on abortion – “the Dems want to allow it up to the ninth month and beyond” – and the unfounded theory that Haitian immigrants in Ohio “kidnap and eat domestic animals.” His final statement was more pointed, asking Harris, “Why haven’t you done these wonderful things you promise in these three and a half years?”
According to the conservative site Townhall, the tycoon “missed an opportunity to land a knockout blow,” but there is time until the vote. After the TV duel, his social media platform, Truth, sank by 16%, the highest drop since June. Despite calling it “his best debate ever,” Trump did not hide his irritation, accusing ABC News of bias. “The debate was rigged, three against one,” he attacked, referring to the two moderators who fact-checked him five times live (never to Harris) and backing out of a possible second showdown, to which the Democratic campaign has already expressed readiness.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump then met today at Ground Zero for the 9/11 commemorations and shook hands. Harris was accompanied by Joe Biden and Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer. Close to Trump was his vice J.D. Vance. Also present at the ceremony were former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani, also a former Mayor of New York City and legal counsel for Donald Trump. “We will never forget,” is the message posted by President Joe Biden on X during the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. “Today is the day we remember the souls lost in the heinous attack on 9/11. We stand with their families and honor the extraordinary heroism of Americans who came to the rescue of others,” said Kamala Harris in a statement. “As we commemorate this day, we must also reflect on what unites us,” Harris added.
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