Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are two rivals in the upcoming November presidential election. Kamala is the candidate of the Democratic Party and Trump is the candidate of the Republican Party. As is customary, they faced each other in direct debate.
This debate was organized by American broadcaster ABC News at 9 pm local time on Tuesday (Bangladesh time on Wednesday 7 am) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The debate was moderated by David Muir and Lynsey Davies.
This is the first time that Kamala and Trump participated in a direct debate ahead of the US presidential election. Kamala, the current Vice President of the United States, reached the stage of the debate and extended her hand towards the former President Trump. The two shook hands. Then the debate started with Kamala’s speech.
The Kamala-Trump debate started with the economy. Later, the two leaders clashed on various issues including health care, abortion rights, immigration, Israel-Hamas war, Russia-Ukraine war, Afghanistan situation. In this debate of one and a half hours, they tried to catch each other by attacking and counter-attacking.
Let’s take a look at the issues raised in the Kamala-Trump debate-
Economy-unemployment
Attacking Trump, Kamala said that when he (Trump) left power, he left US employment in a very bad state. The unemployment rate was the worst since the Great Depression.
Kamla also said that 16 Nobel-winning economists have criticized Trump’s economic policy. According to them, if Trump’s policies are implemented, a recession will begin in the United States within the next year.
Kamla said that Trump has no plans for the Americans. Because he is more interested in protecting himself than looking out for the American people.
Kamla complained and said that what Trump has done before, he still wants to do the same. Trump will give tax breaks to billionaires and corporations.
Kamala said, he wants to create opportunities for everyone in the economy. He wants to reduce the cost of housing for those who have started a new family life.
Trump responded to Kamala’s sharp criticism. He said, Kamala is an empty pitcher. He has no plans. He’s serving Biden’s Plan Two.
Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on other countries. He said that he will reduce the taxes of the people of the United States with the money of Masul. As a result of the tax, the price of goods will not increase. Rather, if there is no such tax, you will have to buy things at a higher price.
Referring to China, Trump said that his administration brought billions of dollars in tariffs from China. Even after leaving power, taxes came.
Abortion rights
The debate moderator called for Trump to clarify his position on abortion rights.
Trump alleged that the Democrats want to give the right to abortion at 9 months of pregnancy. Kamala’s running mate Tim Walz has advocated for the right to abortion even at 9 months of pregnancy.
Trump wants states to regulate abortion. Let them make the law. He will help bring back the right to settle the issue of women’s abortion rights to the state level.
Trump said some states allow the killing of newborns after birth.
After Trump’s words, the moderator said, there is no such state in the country, where it is legal to kill a child after birth.
Kamala reminded that the same justices who were appointed to the Supreme Court during the Trump era abolished the federal right to abortion a couple of years ago.
Kamala said to Trump, ‘You say, this is what people wanted? But there have also been cases of pregnant women bleeding in cars in parking lots. Because, they did not get permission to have an abortion.’
‘They don’t want it,’ says Kamala, who gets emotional referring to women.
Gaza War
Trump accuses Kamala of hating Israel. If Kamala is president Israel will not exist in two years.
Trump was asked how to stop the ongoing war in Gaza, bring back civilians held hostage by Hamas? In response, Trump said that if he was the US president, this war would not have started.
Kamla denied Trump’s allegations. Said, Trump is trying to create division. He is trying to distract from reality.
Kamala clarified her position on the Gaza war. He said, this war must be stopped immediately. Calling for a ceasefire, Kamala advocated a two-state solution for the reconstruction of Gaza.
Kamla said Israel has the right to defend itself. But how to do it is another matter.
Kamala said, ‘This war must be stopped. It must be stopped immediately.’
Ukraine war
In response to a question about the Russia-Ukraine conflict at one stage of the debate, Kamala said that she has a good relationship with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Referring to Trump, Kamla said, ‘You are no longer president – our NATO (Western military alliance) allies are very grateful for that.’
Kamla further said, otherwise Putin (President of Russia) would have sat in Kiev (capital of Ukraine) and looked at the rest of Europe. Putin is a dictator. He will easily take him (Trump) down.
Asked if he wants to see Ukraine win the war, Trump said he wants the war to stop. Trump said Europe is paying much less than the US in the Ukraine war.
A fight of words
During the debate, Trump called current President Joe Biden a ‘non-existent’ president. In response, Kamala said, ‘You are not fighting against Biden in the election, you are fighting against me.’
Coming to the end of the debate, Trump said that Biden and Kamala are the “worst” president and vice president in the history of the United States.
On the other hand, Kamala said, Trump is easily influenced by the world’s worst leaders. World leaders laugh at him (Trump).
