The first United States presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump was held on Tuesday on ABC News with the two candidates strived to attract the electorate.
For 90 minutes debate Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, 59, and her rival, former Republican President Donald Trump, 78 featured sharp exchanges on key issues such as immigration, abortion rights, and foreign policy. Both candidates aimed to sway voters ahead of the upcoming election on November 5.
This was not Trump’s first debate, as he had previously faced off against incumbent President Joe Biden. In that debate, Biden’s performance was criticised, with US media largely declaring Trump the winner.
However, in this second presidential debate for Trump, and his first with Kamala Harris, he appeared more defensive.
Media discussions emphasise the importance of this debate in shaping voter opinions and impacting the 2024 election narrative.
The Washington Post analysed the debate between Harris and Trump, describing it as “a sharp, fiery case against Republican nominee Donald Trump during a freewheeling debate on Tuesday”. They added that “Trump often strayed from the facts, embracing debunked conspiracy theories about immigration and the 2020 election.”
The New York Times emphasised that Harris delivered “a crisp and clear message”, while Trump appeared “angry and defensive”.
The Wall Street Journal also highlighted how “Vice President Kamala Harris put former President Donald Trump on the defensive in their first presidential debate, provoking him over crowd sizes at his rallies and his felony convictions,” signalling how the race has shifted with Harris’s rise to the top of the ticket.
However, they also noted that “Harris was aided by two ABC News moderators who felt the need to fact-check virtually everything the former president said.”
The outlet further added that “Trump became more frustrated and divisive as the nearly two-hour debate continued.”
Meanwhile, both Democrats and Republicans are of the view that that their candidates won the debate.
