Debate verdict: defensive Trump rattled by confident Harris | BBC News

Summary

In a heated debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 US presidential election, both candidates exchanged personal attacks on issues like abortion, immigration, and the economy. Trump claimed victory, while Harris's campaign celebrated her strong performance, including a celebrity endorsement from Taylor Swift. Despite both candidates making misleading claims, fact-checks showed Trump was corrected more often. The election remains highly competitive with polls showing a neck-and-neck race, and the debate offered voters a glimpse of the candidates' contrasting temperaments, though policy details were sparse.

Takeaways

• 😀 Kamala Harris and Donald Trump attended a 9/11 memorial in New York, marking the 23rd anniversary of the attacks.
• 😀 The atmosphere at the memorial was notably more somber compared to the heated TV debate the previous night.
• 😀 The debate was contentious, with both candidates exchanging personal attacks on issues like abortion, foreign policy, and the economy.
• 😀 Kamala Harris accused Donald Trump of continuous lying, while Trump claimed Harris's statements were lies.
• 😀 Trump made controversial claims, such as immigrants in Ohio allegedly eating pets, which were debunked by fact-checkers.
• 😀 Harris called out Trump's stance on abortion, stating that he should not dictate what women do with their bodies.
• 😀 Trump made an unsubstantiated claim about late-term abortions, which was fact-checked and dismissed as false.
• 😀 Despite repeated attacks, Harris successfully kept Trump on the defensive and provoked frustration, leading to Trump appearing angry and rattled.
• 😀 Post-debate celebrations in the Harris camp included a major endorsement from Taylor Swift, who declared her support for Harris.
• 😀 Fact-checkers identified multiple inaccuracies in Trump's statements during the debate, including claims about immigration, unemployment, and inflation.
• 😀 Despite Harris's strong performance, polls show that the election remains neck-and-neck, with key swing states likely determining the outcome.

Q & A

What was the tone of the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump?

The debate was contentious and ill-tempered, with both candidates attacking each other on various issues. Harris was described as pushing Trump's buttons, and Trump responded with insults and personal attacks.

How did Kamala Harris handle Donald Trump's accusations during the debate?

Kamala Harris remained composed, often mocking Trump while delivering strong rebuttals. She particularly focused on abortion rights and defended her stance against Trump's claims.

What controversial claim did Donald Trump make about immigrants in Springfield, Ohio?

Trump claimed that immigrants in Springfield, Ohio were eating pets, including dogs and cats. However, this claim was debunked by fact-checkers, and no credible evidence supported it.

What did Donald Trump claim about abortion rights, and how was it fact-checked?

Trump claimed that if Harris were elected, she would support abortion even after birth, a claim which was fact-checked and proven to be false. No state in the U.S. legally allows abortion after birth.

What did Kamala Harris say about Donald Trump's stance on abortion?

Harris criticized Trump for attempting to dictate women's reproductive rights, stating that the government, including Trump, should not have control over what women do with their bodies.

What was the disagreement regarding unemployment statistics during the debate?

Harris stated that Trump left the country with the worst unemployment since the Great Depression, which was not true. When Trump left office in 2021, the unemployment rate was 6.4%, not as high as during the Great Depression.

How did the moderators handle fact-checking during the debate?

The moderators fact-checked Trump multiple times, particularly on his claims about immigration and unemployment, while Harris's statements went unchecked. This was contrasted with the June 2020 Biden-Trump debate, where CNN refrained from real-time fact-checking.

What is the significance of the celebrity endorsement that Kamala Harris received?

Kamala Harris received a significant endorsement from Taylor Swift, who announced she would vote for Harris after watching the debate, which could influence public perception and support for Harris.

How did the debate impact the polls ahead of the election?

The polls suggested the election was still neck-and-neck, with only eight weeks until the election. Despite Harris's strong performance, there were many uncertainties as the race was expected to be decided by a small number of key swing states.

What did Donald Trump say about the debate in terms of its fairness?

Trump claimed that the debate was rigged against him, asserting that it was 'three against one' because the moderators fact-checked him more than they did Harris.