Harris pledges continued support for Ukraine as Trump skirts question: US presidential candidates face off in debate
broadcast screenshot
The first presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump took place in the United States on the night of September 11. Trump, the Republican candidate, used several populist slogans, while Harris, the Democratic candidate, attempted to respond with a more constructive approach.
This was discussed in a broadcast by CNN and on the Ukrainian TV channel "Voice of America."
The debate was held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and was hosted by the American TV channel ABC News. World News Tonight host and editor-in-chief David Muir and Prime ABC News Live host Linsey Davis served as moderators.
Specifically, Trump and Harris addressed the issue of Russia's war against Ukraine – and based on their remarks, it is clear that the two politicians hold entirely opposing views on this matter.
Furthermore, the Democrat and the Republican were each given two minutes to respond to the question, with an additional minute for further elaboration or answers.
US economy
The initial inquiry focused on the economy – Trump claimed he had created the strongest economy in US history, but now it's "terrible." Harris countered by arguing that the Republican administration had left Biden and his team "the worst economy in history."
"I have a great plan. People will be able to go to work and earn good money for our country. She [Harris – ed.] has no plan, she just copied Biden's plan," Trump said.
He called Kamala Harris a "Marxist". "She and they destroyed our country," Trump added.
She replied that she plans to build an "economy of opportunities." It is about tax breaks for young families and help for small businesses, which are "the backbone of the American economy." Harris reproached Trump that he instead plans to "cut taxes for billionaires and large corporations."
Donald Trump during an ABC News debate on September 11, 2024. Photo: AP / Alex Brandon
Migration and US Border Security
The next topic was migrants and border security – Trump accused Biden and Harris of allowing "criminals to come to the United States."
"I supported the border security bill; it would help us fight arms and drug trafficking at the US border. And Trump was against this bill," the Democratic candidate said.
When asked about migration, Trump brought up a conspiracy theory that has been circulating among Republicans lately, claiming that immigrants in the US are actually eating American pets. He used Springfield, Ohio, as an example.
"They [migrants – ed.] eat dogs, people who came, they eat cats. They eat domestic animals of people who live there, and this is what is happening in our country, and it is a shame," said Trump.
One of the debate moderators countered this claim, pointing out that city officials from Springfield have denied any recorded instances, causing clear annoyance in the former president.
Harris' microphone was turned off as Trump spoke, but cameras caught her laughing, shaking her head and apparently saying, "What?"
Harris responded that, as a prosecutor, she had actively fought against crime and stressed the importance of having a president who prioritizes the safety of Americans rather than furthering his own personal interests when dealing with migrants.
Kamala Harris during an ABC News debate on September 11, 2024. Photo: AP / Alex Brandon
Abortions
The candidates also talked about abortion.
"Currently, more than 20 states have an abortion ban. That is, it is even illegal to perform an abortion for rape victims. This is immoral. The government and Trump should not tell women what to do with their bodies," Harris said.
Harris said that Trump plans to ban them across the country and will decide on such issues instead of women.
The Republican leader accused his opponent of planning to allow abortions during the 7–9 months of pregnancy. He also stated that each state should have the authority to decide whether to allow or prohibit abortions.
Trump also refused to confirm whether he would veto a potential national abortion bill if presented with it. He stated that he wouldn't need to take such action.
Photo: AP / Alex Brandon
War in the Middle East
During the debate, the topic of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas was also brought up. The moderator raised the question of how the candidates planned to address the complexities of Israel's right to self-defense, the loss of life among civilians in the Gaza Strip, and the release of hundreds of hostages held by militant groups.
"On October 7, Hamas killed and raped Israeli civilians, so Israel must defend itself. But in the process, many peaceful Palestinians died – both children and mothers. Therefore, all we want is peace. We need to find a solution for the coexistence of two countries so that Israel feels safe and the Palestinians have self-determination," Harris answered the question.
Trump declared that if his opponent wins the election, "there will be no Israel."
"If I were president, this would never have happened. And Putin would not have attacked Ukraine either. And Harris hates Israel; if she becomes president, Israel will be gone in 2 years. Iran had no money for Hamas and " "Hezbollah" during my presidency, and they removed the sanctions from them, and now they have money. Look what is happening, and I will solve everything and, in particular, stop the war between Russia and Ukraine," he said.
Harris responded to the accusations by saying that Trump is lying about her stance on Israel and his ability to end Russia's war against Ukraine.
"This is absolutely untrue. I have always supported Israel, so he is lying. Everyone knows that Trump said that Putin can do whatever he wants, and when Putin attacked Ukraine, he said it was brilliant," she recalled.
Photo: AP / Alex Brandon
Russia's war against Ukraine
When discussing Russia's aggression against Ukraine, Trump restated once more that he plans to swiftly resolve the war in Ukraine, even before taking office. He added that "millions of people are dying" in Ukraine, so the ex-president wants an end to hostilities.
The presenter also asked: "Do you believe that the victory of Ukraine is in the interests of the United States?"
He twice replied, "It is in our interests to end the war."
Trump also mentioned that he is acquainted with both Putin and Zelensky and has good relationships with them. However, he also stated that they do not hold much respect for Joe Biden, the current leader of the United States.
Instead, Harris emphasized that if Trump wins the election, he plans to "give up" on Ukraine and that he would "surrender" the country within a day of being elected.
The presidential candidate also emphasized that Ukraine has the right to defend itself, and thanks to the support of the United States and its allies, it continues to resist Russian troops and repel the aggressor.
"I think that if Trump became president, he would simply turn away from this war and from supporting Ukraine. I met with Zelensky a few days before the full-scale war; I gave him intelligence about how they can defend themselves.
So we united 50 countries in helping Ukraine. If Trump were the president, Putin would already be sitting in Kyiv. This applies not only to Ukraine. Therefore, all our allies are glad that he is not the president. Putin, his friend, would have already eaten him for lunch," she said.
In response, the ex-president called the opponent "the worst negotiator."
"Putin would be sitting in Moscow right now, and he would be a lot happier than he is now, but he has nuclear weapons, and maybe eventually he will use them. He started the war because they didn't negotiate properly; she negotiated with Putin and Zelensky, and after three days, the war started. She is the worst negotiator," Trump said.
Trump also added that Russia attacked Ukraine allegedly because the Kremlin saw the incompetence of the Biden administration in Afghanistan.
"Biden didn't know how to talk to Putin. And now it's too late; the world is on the verge of the 3rd world war," he said.
Final word
After the debate, Harris stated that she is focused on the future while her opponent clings to the past. She assured that should she win the election, she will safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of the American people.
"Today, you saw two plans for running the country – one going forward and one going backward… I want to invest in the economy of the future and support young families and seniors; I will be a president who will protect our fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right of women to do whatever they want with their bodies," Harris said.
Trump, in his final speech, said that "the whole world is laughing" at the USA, and the planet was on the brink of a new world war.
"She started by saying that she would do this and that. But she has been working for 3,5 years, and I want to ask why she hasn't done all this yet?… We are a declining nation, and we are being laughed at worldwide. They don't understand this. There are wars in the Middle East, there is a war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, and the third world war will soon come," he summarized.
It's worth mentioning that the debate was scheduled to run for 90 minutes, including two commercial breaks. The hall had no audience, and the microphones would only be turned on during the candidates' responses.
The opponents were only permitted to bring a pen, notebook, and water bottle. The microphones were activated solely for the candidate who was speaking at the time. Only the moderators were authorized to pose queries. Trump and Harris were not allowed to communicate with their campaign team during intermissions.
