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DEBATE REPLAY: VP Harris and former President Trump l ABC News Presidential Debate

ABC News・103 minutes read

Vice President Harris and former President Trump engage in a heated presidential debate covering a wide range of topics from the economy to abortion and national security, with both candidates defending their policies and criticizing each other's approaches, setting the stage for a contentious election battle with Harris highlighting unity and progress while Trump underscores his achievements and challenges the current administration's actions.

Insights

Vice President Harris focuses on lifting the middle class, offering tax cuts and emphasizing the challenges left by Trump, including high unemployment and public health issues.
President Trump defends his economic plan, highlighting tariffs on other countries and endorsements from top economists, while criticizing Harris's economic policies and tax breaks for the wealthy.
The abortion issue is a significant point of contention, with Trump aiming to overturn Roe v. Wade and Harris supporting its protections, criticizing Trump's abortion bans for criminalizing healthcare providers.
Trump faces criticism for not engaging in solutions, focusing on problems, and diverting discussions to immigration, using fictional characters and bizarre claims during rallies.
The former President and Vice President engage in heated exchanges on policy changes, fracking, gun control, and border crossings, with Harris emphasizing diverse energy sources and protecting vulnerable populations.
The debate highlights contrasting visions for the future, with Harris focusing on progress and opportunity, while Trump criticizes the current administration and emphasizes alleged corruption, with a focus on job losses and foreign auto plants.

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Recent questions

Who won the coin toss at the presidential debate?
Trump

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Summary

00:00

"First Presidential Debate: Harris vs. Trump"

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump engage in their first face-to-face meeting in the presidential election.
President Biden withdrew after his last debate, leading to Trump facing a new opponent.
The candidates are essentially tied in national polls and key battleground states like Pennsylvania.
The ABC News presidential debate is about to start, marking a historic event.
The debate will last 90 minutes with two commercial breaks, no shared topics or questions, and specific time limits for responses.
President Trump won the coin toss and chose to deliver the final closing statement.
Vice President Harris and President Trump take the stage for the debate.
Harris focuses on her plan for lifting the middle class, offering tax cuts for families and small businesses.
Trump denies a sales tax plan, emphasizes tariffs on other countries, and criticizes the current state of the economy.
Harris responds by highlighting the challenges left by Trump, including high unemployment and public health issues, aiming to bring the country together.

09:02

Stock market surge, ventilator production, economic debate.

Stock market higher than pre-pandemic levels, unprecedented situation.
Production of ventilators, gowns, and masks for global distribution.
Credited for military rebuilding and pandemic response.
Mention of "bounceback jobs" created by the speaker.
Vice President Harris criticizes Trump's economic plan, emphasizing tax breaks for the wealthy.
Trump defends his economic plan, highlighting endorsements from top economists.
Discussion on tariffs and their impact on consumer prices.
Trump defends tariffs, stating they target countries like China.
Harris criticizes Trump's trade policies, mentioning selling chips to China.
Trump accuses Harris of changing policies and being a Marxist, criticizes immigration policies.

18:00

Abortion Debate: States' Rights vs. Federal Bans

Legal scholars, Democrats, Republicans, liberals, and conservatives all wanted the abortion issue to be decided by the states where people could vote.
Ohio and Kansas had somewhat liberal votes on the abortion issue, surprising many.
President Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices with the intention of overturning Roe v. Wade, resulting in abortion bans in over 20 states.
Vice President Harris supports reinstating the protections of Roe v. Wade and criticizes Trump's abortion bans for criminalizing healthcare providers and denying care to women.
President Trump claims to have brought the abortion issue back to the states, denying support for a national abortion ban.
Vice President Harris emphasizes the importance of a woman's right to make decisions about her own body and criticizes the restrictions imposed by Trump's abortion bans.
President Trump accuses Vice President Harris of lying and claims to have been a leader on IVF and fertilization issues.
President Trump questions Vice President Harris on late-term abortion policies and accuses her of supporting abortions in the seventh, eighth, and ninth months.
Vice President Harris defends her stance on abortion and criticizes President Trump's accusations, emphasizing the importance of a woman's freedom to make decisions about her body.
Vice President Harris discusses her work on prosecuting transnational criminal organizations and supporting a border security bill that would have increased border agents and helped stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

27:08

Trump's Campaign Focuses on Problems, Not Solutions

A bill was proposed to allocate more resources for prosecuting transnational criminal organizations involved in trafficking guns, drugs, and human beings.
Donald Trump intervened by calling Congress to kill the bill because he preferred to campaign on problems rather than solving them.
The former President is criticized for not engaging in solutions and focusing on running on problems instead of fixing them.
Trump is accused of diverting discussions to immigration even when it's not the main topic, using fictional characters and bizarre claims during his rallies.
Trump is noted for not addressing the needs, dreams, and desires of the people, with a pledge from the speaker to prioritize the people's interests.
Trump defends his rallies, claiming they have the biggest attendance due to people wanting to reclaim the country and make America great again.
The former President is criticized for his handling of the country, with endorsements from prominent Republicans highlighting his unfitness for office.
Trump defends his decision to fire officials who did a bad job, contrasting it with his opponents who didn't take similar actions.
Trump accuses the opposition of allowing criminals, terrorists, and drug dealers into the country, leading to a rise in crime.
The discussion shifts to immigration enforcement, with Trump advocating for the deportation of undocumented immigrants and blaming the opposition for the country's crime problems.

36:12

"Political Battles: Former President vs. Vice President"

Moving forward and turning the page on old rhetoric is crucial in addressing the needs of the American people, such as the housing shortage, support for small businesses, and reducing grocery prices.
Cases initiated by political opponents against the speaker have been weaponized, involving the Department of Justice and various legal entities.
The former president emphasizes winning legal battles against political opponents and criticizes the weaponization of the justice system.
The former president is accused of threatening democracy and expressing disdain for the military, with concerns raised about potential misuse of power if re-elected.
The former president and vice president engage in a heated exchange regarding policy changes, particularly on fracking, gun control, and border crossings.
The vice president defends her policy shifts, emphasizing her commitment to diverse energy sources, home ownership, and protecting vulnerable populations.
The former president counters by highlighting his business success, criticizing the vice president's policy changes, and warning against the potential consequences of her election.
The former president defends his actions on January 6th, emphasizing the peaceful nature of his speech and criticizing the response to the Capitol events.
The former president expresses regret over the shooting of Ashleigh Babbit during the Capitol events and criticizes the treatment of his supporters.
The former president questions the vice president's handling of border security and criticizes her role as the "border czar."

45:28

Former President Denies Election Loss, Faces Criticism

The speaker criticizes the handling of border issues and questions the prosecution of individuals worldwide, not just in South America.
They inquire about the prosecution of those involved in incidents like the burning of Minneapolis and the takeover of Seattle.
The speaker denies responsibility for the events on January 6th, stating they were asked to make a speech and offered National Guard soldiers, which was rejected.
Vice President Harris accuses the former president of inciting violence on January 6th and mentions incidents like Charlottesville and the Proud Boys.
The former president denies acknowledging his loss in the 2020 election, claiming sarcastic remarks and emphasizing the need for border security and fair elections.
The former president disputes claims of losing the election, citing legal cases and alleging a decline in the nation's state.
Vice President Harris asserts that the former president is struggling to accept his loss and criticizes his attempts to challenge the election results.
The former president's post about prosecuting alleged cheaters in the upcoming election is discussed, with a response from one of Vice President Harris's campaign lawyers.
Vice President Harris emphasizes the former president's defeat by 81 million voters and condemns his attempts to overturn election results.
Vice President Harris highlights global leaders' negative perceptions of the former president and criticizes his denial of election losses despite court rulings.

54:36

Trump and Orban praise each other

Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary, praised Trump as a respected and feared leader by world leaders like China, North Korea, and Russia.
Orban credited Trump for maintaining peace and stability during his presidency, contrasting it with the current administration's actions.
Trump highlighted his actions against the Nordstream 2 pipeline and the XL pipeline, criticizing Biden's decisions regarding these projects.
Trump emphasized Orban's statement that he was the most respected and feared person, contrasting it with the current administration's perceived weakness.
Vice President Harris discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict, emphasizing the need for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Harris advocated for a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict, emphasizing the importance of security and self-determination for both parties.
Trump criticized the current administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, predicting dire consequences if Harris were to become president.
Trump highlighted his actions against Iran during his presidency, contrasting it with the current administration's approach to the country.
Harris refuted Trump's claims of her alleged hatred towards Israel, emphasizing her support for the country and its people throughout her career.
Trump criticized the current administration's perceived weakness on national security, particularly in relation to immigration policies and foreign relations.

01:04:17

Trump Urges Europe to Increase NATO Contributions

Europe is expected to contribute $150 billion less than the US towards a certain cause, as they have not been asked to contribute.
During Trump's presidency, he pressured European countries to pay billions to NATO or risk losing protection, resulting in a significant financial contribution.
Trump believes that the US is committed to contributing $250 to $275 billion, while Europe is only contributing $100 to $150 billion, suggesting an imbalance that should be rectified.
Trump aims to settle a war involving Zelenskyy and Putin, claiming to have a good relationship with both leaders and asserting that they respect him more than Biden.
Trump criticizes Biden for not engaging with Putin and failing to prevent a war that has resulted in numerous casualties and the potential for World War 3.
Harris emphasizes her support for Ukraine, highlighting her efforts to provide military aid and assistance to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty against Russian aggression.
Harris criticizes Trump, suggesting that his approach would have allowed Putin to take over Ukraine and potentially threaten other European countries.
Trump accuses Harris of being a poor negotiator, claiming that her actions led to the start of a war between Zelenskyy and Putin.
Harris refutes Trump's claims, stating that her meetings with Zelenskyy were focused on upholding international norms and supporting allies, not favoring enemies.
Trump praises his efforts to pressure European countries to pay their fair share to NATO, claiming it was a significant achievement in his presidency.

01:13:20

President Trump's Controversial Taliban Negotiations

President negotiated a weak deal with the Taliban, bypassing the Afghan government.
Negotiation involved releasing 5,000 Taliban terrorists.
President invited Taliban leaders to Camp David, a significant American diplomatic location.
President Trump defended his involvement with the Taliban due to their attacks on US soldiers.
An agreement was negotiated by Mike Pompeo, aiming for a swift withdrawal without leaving soldiers or equipment behind.
President Trump criticized the Taliban for not adhering to the agreement, leading to its termination.
Vice President Harris accused President Trump of using race to divide Americans.
President Trump defended his actions, highlighting his economic achievements and criticizing current policies.
Vice President Harris emphasized unity and criticized Trump's past actions regarding race.
Vice President Harris presented her plans for small businesses, families, and homeowners, contrasting with Trump's approach.

01:23:09

Democrats Stand Firm on Healthcare, Trump Criticizes

Democrats unanimously refused to change the existing plan, leading to a missed opportunity for a better alternative to Obamacare.
Despite the political advantage of letting the plan fail, the decision was made to improve it rather than let it deteriorate.
The focus was on saving and enhancing the plan, acknowledging it would never be perfect and was costly for people.
Plans are being considered to find a more cost-effective and better healthcare option than Obamacare.
Vice President Harris supports maintaining and expanding the Affordable Care Act, emphasizing the importance of healthcare access as a right.
The Affordable Care Act prevented insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
Efforts have been made to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, including capping the cost of insulin and prescription medication for seniors.
President Trump criticized Harris for not improving private insurance options and accused her of wanting everyone on government insurance.
Climate change was discussed, with Harris highlighting investments in clean energy and job creation, while Trump criticized job losses and foreign auto plants.
Closing statements emphasized contrasting visions for the future, with Harris focusing on progress and opportunity, while Trump criticized the current administration and highlighted alleged corruption.

01:32:39

"Protecting America's Future: A Presidential Promise"

The speaker aims to maintain America's global standing and ensure respect, particularly for the military.
Emphasizes the protection of fundamental rights, including a woman's right to make decisions about her body.
The speaker highlights their background as a prosecutor, district attorney, attorney general, senator, and vice president, emphasizing serving the people.
Advocates for a president who prioritizes caring for individuals over personal interests.
Focuses on being a president for all Americans and investing in the country's future over the next 10-20 years.
Criticizes the opponent for not fulfilling promises and addressing issues like border security and job creation during their time in office.
Accuses the opponent of allowing criminals into the country and weakening national security.
Claims to have rebuilt the military and criticizes the opponent for giving away military resources.
Expresses concern about the nation's decline, being laughed at globally, and potential conflicts like a third world war due to nuclear weapons.
Concludes by labeling the opponent as the worst president and vice president in the country's history.

01:41:58

Political Figures Debate Abortion and Policies

Governor Walz clarifies the Harris-Walz ticket's stance on abortion, supporting the reinstitution of Roe vs. Wade.
Amanda's case in Texas is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of access to healthcare for women.
Senator J.D. Vance, Donald Trump's running mate, asserts Trump's opposition to a national abortion ban.
Vance criticizes Kamala Harris for lacking substance in her plans and policies.
Vance defends Trump's refusal to answer the question on vetoing a national abortion ban, citing his clear stance against it.
Vance accuses the media of focusing on trivial issues instead of the struggles of Americans with affordability and border security.
Governor Christie praises Harris for being well-prepared and criticizing Trump for lack of focus on important issues.
Donna Brazile commends Harris for her exceptional debate performance and ability to lead the discussion.
Reince Priebus criticizes Harris for not addressing key issues like the economy, immigration, and defunding the police.
Priebus suggests that Trump's numbers won't move due to Harris's failure to provide substantial answers during the debate.

01:50:19

Harris campaign seeks to sway voters

Kamala Harris had the opportunity to introduce herself to the country during the debate, but the impact of her performance on voters remains uncertain despite her strong stance against Donald Trump and the events of January 6th.
The Harris campaign is optimistic about their message and is pushing for a second debate, aiming to position Vice President Harris as the candidate ready for change, aligning with the voters' desire for a new direction according to polls.

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