Trump and Harris Face Off in Philadelphia Debate Top Highlights

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris faced each other for the first time in a debate held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday. Moderated by ABC News, this debate was technically the second of the election cycle but marked the first since President Biden ended his campaign and Harris was nominated by Democrats.

1. Trump’s MAGA Hat Comment

Trump stirred controversy by suggesting he might send Harris a MAGA hat, claiming she has adopted his political philosophy. “Everything she believed three years ago and four years ago is out the window she’s gone to my philosophy now,” Trump stated. He criticized Harris for changing her positions and warned, “If she ever got elected, she’d change it, and it will be the end of our country. She’s a Marxist.”

2. Trump on the Assassination Attempt

Trump addressed Harris’s accusations of him being an authoritarian by suggesting that her and Biden’s rhetoric might have contributed to the assassination attempt he survived in July. “This is the one that weaponized. Not me. She weaponized,” Trump said. He added, “I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things that they say about me.” Trump was shot in the ear at a Pennsylvania rally before the shooter was subdued by Secret Service.

3. Harris’s Response to Economic Criticism

Trump criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s economic policies, with Harris responding by emphasizing her own stance. “Clearly, I am not Joe Biden,” Harris said, defending herself against Trump’s claims that she is merely a continuation of Biden’s policies. “What I do offer is a new generation of leadership for our country,” she added.

4. The Afghanistan Withdrawal Debate

When questioned about the withdrawal from Afghanistan, Harris defended Biden’s decision, stating, “I agreed with President Biden’s decision to pull out of Afghanistan. Four presidents said they would and Joe Biden did.” Trump, however, criticized the chaotic withdrawal and the loss of U.S. resources and equipment, and Harris did not address whether she felt responsible for the way it was executed.

5. Trump’s Use of Harris’s Famous Line

Trump made a reference to Harris’s famous 2020 debate line, “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking,” by saying, “Wait a minute, I’m talking now if you don’t mind.” This remark came as Harris tried to interject after Trump accused her of supporting defunding the police. Harris’s response was muted and not clearly heard.

The debate featured a range of heated exchanges and notable moments, highlighting the stark contrasts between Trump and Harris. As they each presented their vision for the future, the debate underscored the high stakes of the 2024 presidential election.