PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Sparring on politics and personality, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump showcased their starkly different visions for the country on abortion, immigration and American democracy as they met for the first time Tuesday for perhaps their only debate before November’s presidential election.
The Democratic vice president moved repeatedly to get under the skin of the former Republican president, provoking him with reminders about the 2020 election loss that he still denies and derisive asides at his other false claims.
Harris not only tried to make the case that Trump is unfit for office but tried to use her answers in a way that seemed designed to provoke him into launching into one of the personal attacks that his advisers and supporters have tried to steer him away from. In one moment, Harris turned to Trump and said that as vice president, she had spoken to foreign leaders, “And they say you’re a disgrace.”
Trump again denied his loss to President Joe Biden four years ago, when his efforts to overturn the result inspired the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.
“Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people," Harris said, "So let’s be clear about that. And clearly he is having a very difficult time processing that.”
Trump in turn tried to link Harris to Biden, questioning why she hadn’t acted on her proposed ideas while serving as vice president, and focused his attacks on Harris over her assignment by Biden to deal with the root causes of illegal migration.
He repeatedly dismissed her and Biden as weak, and cited the praise of Hungary’s nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán to show that he is a widely respected by leaders around the world, saying Orbán calls him the “most feared person.”
The high-pressure matchup after a tumultuous campaign summer offered Americans their most detailed look at a campaign that’s been dramatically changed. The vice president moved to far more effectively press the Democratic case against Trump than Biden did when he met Trump in June, linking the former president to GOP efforts to restrict abortion access and accusing him of undermining the nation's democracy.
The pair outlined sharply opposite visions of where the nation is and where they intend to take it if elected. Harris promised tax cuts aimed at the middle class and said she would push to restore a federally guaranteed right to abortion overturned by the Supreme Court two years ago. Trump said his proposed tariffs would help the U.S. stop being cheated by allies on trade and said he would work to swiftly end the Russia-Ukraine war, even if it meant Ukraine didn't achieve victory on the battlefield.
Local reactions
About a mile away from the debate, a watch party organized by the Committee of Seventy and other civic organizations packed City Tap House to tune in.
Most of the crowd seemed to be for Harris, but Trump fans still came out to support the former commander-in-chief.
Lauren Cristella with Committee of Seventy commented on “the buzz” currently in the city and state with the election around the corner.
“It’s partially a result of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania [playing] such an important role in this election and the attention we’re getting,” she said.
As the two candidates were pressed on a number of hot-button issues, watch-partygoers paid extra attention, filled out debate BINGO cards and chatted about the different topics under discussion.
For Tiana from West Philly, she said she supports Harris, but wanted to hear from both candidates on certain topics like affordable housing and inflation.
“And also entrepreneurs,” she said. “Being an entrepreneur myself, a woman entrepreneur, I just want to understand what opportunities and policies are they generating?”
Molly Hasson was visiting Philadelphia from Seattle and came to the watch party to hear about certain topics important to her. At the top was the economy.
“I have kids in college and want to know that they have a secure future. You know, just general civil rights, like I think that’s a really important thing in this election, I want to see that move forward,” she said.
Terrill Haigler from North Philly predicted that just like in 2020, whoever wins Pennsylvania will win the election this year.
“To see so many Philadelphians politically engaged and involved is really inspiring to see what November will bring,” he said.
Pro-Palestinian protesters hit Market Street
In the lead-up to the debate at the National Constitution Center and while it was going on, a few hundred Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at City Hall and marched down Market Street towards the Constitution Center demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and decrying the two-party system.
Protester Talia Giles was one of the hundreds with the Philly Palestine Coalition out to demonstrate against the two-party system.
“It’s a system that doesn’t allow for democracy,” she said.
With that in mind, she said both Harris and Trump don’t appeal to them enough to vote for either.
“A lot of times we hear the arguments to have to choose the lesser of two evils,” Giles said. “Why should I have to do that? Why should I have to choose what’s lesser evil?”
The protests outside the Constitution Center remained largely peaceful, but a few arrests were later reported across social media.
Looking ahead
This was the only debate currently on the calendar between Harris and Trump, and could be the last before voters hit the polls in November.
Harris campaign chief spokesperson Brian Fallon suggested in a post just on X just after the debate ended that the campaign would be open to another clash in October.
When Trump was asked about another debate, he said he wouldn’t commit.
“The reason you do a second debate is if you lose, and they lost,” he told Fox News host Sean Hannity. “But I’ll think about it.”
Vice Presidential candidates Tim Walz and J.D. Vance will take the stage for their own debate in New York City on Tuesday, Oct. 1.