Harris and Trump clash on economy in first presidential debate

PHILADELPHIA: Republican Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris sparred over the economy in the opening minutes of their first presidential debate on Tuesday, a critical moment in the tightly contested election.

Harris, 59, criticized Trump’s plan to impose high tariffs on foreign goods, comparing it to a tax on the middle class, while promoting her own proposal to offer tax breaks to families.

### Key Takeaways from the Debate:

**Handshake:**  
There was speculation about how Harris and Trump, who had never met, would greet each other. Harris settled the matter by walking over to Trump, extending her hand, and introducing herself as “Kamala Harris.” It was a disarming approach toward a man who had spent weeks attacking her race and gender. The debate then quickly fell into familiar rhythms, with Harris positioning herself as a forward-thinking candidate. She predicted Trump would rely on “the same tired playbook,” full of “lies, grievances, and name-calling.”

**Economy:**  
Harris said, "I believe in the ambition, aspirations, and dreams of the American people, and that’s why I have a plan to build what I call an opportunity economy." Trump countered, "We’ve had a terrible economy because of inflation, which is a country buster. People can’t afford basic necessities like cereal, bacon, or eggs. They’ve destroyed the economy."

**Israel-Gaza Conflict:**  
Harris called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict, adding, "We need to secure the hostages' release." Trump, however, claimed, "If she's president, Israel won’t exist in two years," to which Harris firmly responded, "That’s not true. I’ve always supported Israel and its people."

**Abortion:**  
Harris promised to sign a bill reinstating the protections of Roe v. Wade if passed by Congress. Trump argued, "States are now voting on abortion, which is how it should be. It’s the people's choice, not the federal government’s."

**Immigration:**  
Harris anticipated Trump would focus heavily on immigration, saying, "He’ll talk about it a lot tonight, even if it’s not the topic at hand." Trump replied, "Our country is failing, overrun by illegal immigration."

**Assassination Attempt:**  
Trump claimed, "I’ve taken metaphorical bullets for everything they say about me." Harris retorted, "As expected, more lies."

**January 6th Capitol Attack:**  
Trump denied responsibility, saying, "I had nothing to do with it, other than being asked to give a speech." Harris, recalling the day, said, "I was at the Capitol as Vice President-elect. The president incited a violent mob to desecrate our nation’s capital."

**COVID-19:**  
Harris criticized Trump for thanking China’s President Xi during the pandemic.

**Project 2025:**  
Harris warned, "You’ll hear about Project 2025, a dangerous plan Trump intends to implement if elected, which includes expanding executive power and removing environmental regulations."

### Debate Preparation:  
Harris spent days preparing, holding mock debates to recreate the setting, while Trump relied on informal talks with advisers and media appearances. Former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who had clashed with Harris in a 2019 Democratic debate, provided Trump with advice.

### Impact:  
Presidential debates rarely change voters' minds, but they can shift dynamics in tight races. In battleground states, even a slight change in opinion could affect the election outcome. The debate, hosted by ABC News at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, featured no live audience and muted microphones when it wasn’t a candidate’s turn to speak.