Key Takeaways From a Debate Highlighting Abortion, Race, and Economy Clashes

On Tuesday night, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced off in a highly anticipated debate — their first and possibly their last meeting on the stage.

The Democratic vice president made an assertive opening move, confidently crossing the stage to shake Trump’s hand. “Kamala Harris,” she introduced herself with a smile, “Let’s have a good debate.”

Trump, the former Republican president, responded casually, “Nice to see you. Have fun.”

That brief interaction set the tone for the next 90 minutes. Harris, sharp and assertive, steered the conversation, landing pointed criticisms on Trump’s economic policies, his ongoing refusal to concede the 2020 election, and even his performances at campaign rallies.

Topic	Details
Opening Move	Harris confidently approached Trump and shook his hand, setting a cordial but competitive tone.
Harris’s Criticisms	– Criticized Trump’s tariffs as a hidden tax on the middle class.
	– Accused Trump of overseeing the Capitol insurrection (Jan 6, 2021).
	– Criticized his stance on women’s rights and admiration for dictators.
Trump’s Defense	– Defended his rally attendance, insisting his crowd sizes were larger.
	– Focused on inflation and immigration issues.
Key Issues	– Economy: Harris attacked Trump’s tariffs and trade deficit, Trump claimed to have built a strong economy.
	– Race: Harris detailed Trump’s racial controversies, Trump dismissed them as outdated.
	– Abortion: Harris defended women’s reproductive rights, Trump praised overturning Roe v. Wade.
Memorable Exchange	Trump used Harris’s famous 2020 line, “Wait a minute, I’m talking now,” to push back when interrupted, mimicking her remark from her debate with Mike Pence.
Final Exchange on Economy	Trump claimed to have built “one of the greatest economies,” while Harris argued that Trump has “no plan” for addressing current issues.

In her first response, Harris directly challenged Trump’s tariffs, claiming they amounted to a hidden tax on the middle class. She soon went further, accusing Trump of overseeing the most significant assault on American democracy since the Civil War—the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021. She also condemned his stance on women’s rights and mocked his admiration for authoritarian leaders.

Trump appeared flustered at times, especially when Harris noted that people often leave his rallies early. Defending his crowd sizes, Trump insisted they were larger than Harris’s. Throughout the debate, he tied Harris closely to President Joe Biden, labeling her “Biden” and criticizing the administration’s handling of inflation and immigration.

Harris responded with a confident, “Clearly, I am not Joe Biden and I am certainly not Donald Trump. What I offer is a new generation of leadership.”

Race and abortion became major flashpoints. When asked about his previous comments on Harris’s race, Trump brushed it off. However, Harris took the opportunity to detail Trump’s history of racial controversies, including his involvement in discriminatory housing practices and his false claims about former President Barack Obama’s birthplace. Trump dismissed these as irrelevant and outdated.

On abortion, Harris fiercely defended women’s rights, painting a vivid picture of the challenges women face under restrictive laws. Trump, for his part, praised his role in the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, though he struggled with factual accuracy, repeating a debunked claim about Democrats supporting late-term abortions.

Both candidates had moments of sharp exchanges and personal attacks. At one point, Trump echoed Harris’s famous 2020 debate line to Mike Pence: “Wait a minute, I’m talking now,” after she interrupted him.

While Trump largely maintained composure, he did at times delve into controversial and debunked claims, including a rumor about Haitian immigrants in Ohio and allegations that the legal cases against him were politically motivated by Harris and Biden.

As the debate neared its end, the two candidates clashed over the economy. Trump championed his record, claiming he had built “one of the greatest economies” in American history, while Harris countered by saying Trump had “no plan” for the future.