Harris slams Trump over abortion; spar on immigration, economy in heated debate

US Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump have faced off in a high-stakes televised debate in Philadelphia.

The incumbent vice president and Democratic candidate opened the faceoff by marching across the stage to Trump’s lectern to shake his hand.

“Kamala Harris,” she said, introducing herself as the pair met for the first time. “Let’s have a good debate.”

“Nice to see you. Have fun,” the former president responded.

The exchange set the tone for the entire debate: Harris provoked Trump with jabs at his economic policy, his refusal to concede his 2020 election loss which he still denies, and even his performance at his rallies.

Harris’s performance seemed to be the opposite of US President Joe Biden’s in June, with sharp, focused answers designed to showcase the contrast between her and Trump. Biden had, at times, been muddled, halting and at times incoherent.

Over the course of 90 minutes, the candidates sparred over key issues including immigration, foreign policy, and the US economy.

Harris said: “I am actually the only person on this stage who has a plan that is about lifting up the middle class and working people of America… His plan is to do what he has done before, which is to provide a tax cut for billionaires and big corporations which will result in five trillion dollars to America’s deficit.”

Trump said: “Look, we’ve had a terrible economy because inflation has, which is really known as a country buster, breaks up countries. We have inflation like very few people have ever seen before… I created one of the greatest economies in the history of our country. I’ll do it again, and even better.”

The two clashed over immigration. Trump made sweeping claims about the number of people crossing the US border under Biden.

Trump said: “They allowed criminals. Many, many millions of criminals. They allowed terrorists. They allowed common street criminals. They allowed people to come in, drug dealers, to come into our country, and they’re now in the United States.”

In response, Harris criticized Trump for blocking a border bill earlier this year that she claimed would have offered a solution.

Harris said: “That bill would have put more resources to allow us to prosecute transnational criminal organizations for trafficking in guns, drugs, and human beings. But you know what happened to that bill? Donald Trump got on the phone, called up some folks in Congress, and said kill the bill.”

Both were seen harshly criticizing each other, labelling each other’s assertions as lies. The two also went head to head on the conflict in Gaza.

She derided his false claims and emphasised the Republican candidate’s role in the Supreme Court’s overturning of a national right to abortion two years ago.

Harris said: “Israel has the right to defend itself… This war must end. It must end immediately. And the way it will end is we need a ceasefire deal and we need the hostages out.”

Trump said: “She hates Israel. If she is president, I believe that Israel will not exist within two years from now.”

Harris: “That’s absolutely not true. I have, my entire career and life, supported Israel and the Israeli people.”

At one moment, Harris turned to Trump and said that as vice president, she had spoken to foreign leaders who “are laughing at Donald Trump,” and said she had spoken to military leaders, “and they say you’re a disgrace”.

In response, Trump highlighted his close ties with other leaders, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

“They call him a strong man. He’s a tough person,” Trump said of Orbán, a hard-right politician who has tried to limit press freedom and political opposition in Hungary.

Trump, who appeared to be on his back foot, again questioned Harris’ racial identity.

59-year-old Harris, the first woman, Black person and person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president, responded, “I think the American people want better than that, want better than this.”

The US election is less than eight weeks away – and with Trump and Harris effectively tied in opinion polls, it’s gearing up to be a very tight race.