USA Showdown: Trump and Harris in attack mode during TV duel

The two US presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump launched sharp attacks on each other during their first TV debate.

They accused each other of running the country into the ground, having no plan for the pressing problems and spreading lies. Trump repeatedly referred to Harris as a "radical leftist" and "Marxist". The Democrat, in turn, repeatedly said that her opponent did not care about the needs of citizens and was only interested in belittling others.

First meeting between the two

It was the first time Harris and Trump had ever met face to face - and probably the most important showdown between the two before the election on November 5. In their first meeting on stage, the two shook hands. The Democrat approached the Republican and introduced herself as "Kamala Harris" at the event hall in Philadelphia. The two then immediately went into attack mode.

Complaints about destruction and chaos

Harris lamented that Trump had left the country in a disastrous state in 2021 - with the highest unemployment since the Great Depression, the worst healthcare epidemic in a century and the worst assault on American democracy since the Civil War. "And what we've done is clean up Donald Trump's mess."

Trump, for his part, lamented that Harris and US President Joe Biden had plunged the country into the abyss during their time in office. "We have a nation that is dying," he said. During various questions, the Republican brought up the topic of migration and accused the Biden and Harris administration of letting millions and millions of migrants and criminals into the country unchecked. "They have destroyed the fabric of our country." Trump even accused migrants of eating pets. "In Springfield, they're eating the dogs - the people who came here - they're eating the cats. They're eating the pets of the people who live there," he claimed without any evidence.

An unusual suggestion

Harris accused Trump of wanting tax cuts for the rich and not caring about ordinary Americans. She appealed to citizens to come and see for themselves at one of his campaign appearances. "I'm going to do something really unusual and call on you to attend one of Donald Trump's rallies," said the Democrat, addressing the audience. There, Trump spread absurd claims such as that windmills cause cancer. "The only thing you won't hear him talk about is you." Trump has no plan for the people of the country. Trump replied piqued that people don't even go to Harris' campaign events.

Trump accused his opponent of having no plan for economic policy and of being a Marxist. "She has destroyed our country with policies that are insane," said the former US president. The two also accused each other of lying on several occasions. Harris complained that Trump was using the same old hackneyed script and spreading a "bunch of lies, complaints and insults". Americans are tired of it, she said. Several times she called on the country to turn over a new leaf, look forward and address the needs of the American people.

Harris also said she had traveled the world as Vice President and world leaders were laughing at Trump. She has also spoken with military leaders, some of whom have worked with the Republican, she said. "And they say you're a disgrace."

Test of strength for Harris

The duel, which was hosted by ABC, was a test for Harris in particular. The 59-year-old had only replaced President Biden as the Democratic candidate a few weeks ago and had so far mainly appeared in strictly choreographed campaign appearances in which her team had everything under control. In the debate against Trump, she now had to prove herself without a script.

Trump, on the other hand, has already contested various televised debates, including in his previous election campaigns in 2016 and 2020. The 78-year-old emerged as the clear winner of his most recent TV duel at the end of June. At the time, he was still competing against Biden, who withdrew from the race for the presidency after his disastrous performance and left the field to Harris.

The scene

The debate was broadcast from a studio without an audience in Philadelphia, the largest city in the politically highly contested state of Pennsylvania. The two politicians were left to their own devices on stage: Cheat sheets were not allowed, nor was contact with the respective team. During the debate, the microphone of the candidate who was not speaking was muted.

Neck-and-neck race

Harris and Trump are roughly tied in the polls. Both are trying to win over undecided voters in particular. In a recent poll, 28% of respondents said they did not know enough about Harris, compared to 9% for Trump. While most people in the US know what to expect from the Republican, Harris and her positions are unknown to far more people. During the debate, she made an effort to lay out her substantive goals - including on her flagship issue of abortion. "The government and certainly Donald Trump should certainly not tell a woman what to do with her body," said Harris and promised that if she won the election, she would want to enshrine the right to abortion in law. However, Harris would need a corresponding majority in Congress for this.

Various foreign policy issues - the Middle East, Ukraine, China, Afghanistan - were also discussed. Here, the two mainly repeated familiar positions.

The only TV duel between the two?

There had been a long wrangle over the date for the televised debate beforehand. So far, no date has been set for another televised debate between the two. However, there is to be a TV duel between the two vice candidates of the Democrats and Republicans, Tim Walz and J.D. Vance - on October 1 (local time).