It was the first time in eight years that two presidential candidates shook hands on the debate stage – starting the event in an atmosphere of positivity.
However, that was not to last as both former president Donald Trump and Vice-President Kamala Harris accused each other of "lying" within the first 30 minutes of the debate.
During a tense face-off regarding immigration, Trump made an allegedly bizarre claim that Haitian immigrants in Ohio eat dogs and other domesticated animals.
"They're eating the dogs, the people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what's happening in our country, and it's a shame," the former president said.
Harris, on the other hand, slammed Trump's claims on immigration, saying:
"You're going to hear from the same old tired playbook, a bunch of lies, grievances and name-calling."Kamala Harris
Trump also assured supporters that he would carry out "mass deportations" of illegal immigrants if he is elected to office once again.
Economy
As the debate began, the two leaders squared off regarding questions on the economy and how they will manage crucial issues facing the country, like high inflation, unemployment rates, etc.
"Donald Trump has no plan for you," Harris said, adding that he would provide tax cuts to "billionaires and big corporations".
She also reflected on her time growing up in a middle-class household – and said that she had plans to support small businesses and low to middle-income families if she wins the November election.
In his rebuttal, Trump stated that the economy was in doldrums because of the policies of the Joe Biden administration.
"Look, we have had a terrible economy because of inflation which is really known as a country buster. It breaks up countries. We have inflation as very few people have ever seen before, probably the worst in our nation’s history."Donald Trump
Trump also took a dig at Biden's immigration policy, stating that illegal immigrants were taking away the jobs of "hardworking Americans".
"We have millions of people pouring into our country from prisons and jails, from mental institutions and insane asylums. They are taking jobs that are occupied right now by African Americans and Hispanics and also unions," he added.
Crime, Abortion
Meanwhile, Trump attacked the Biden government saying that crime rates had increased manifold during the latter's tenure.
Harris, however, stated that it was "rich" coming from a person charged in dozens of cases.
“I think this is so rich coming from someone who has been prosecuted for national security crimes, economic crimes, election interference, has been found liable for sexual assault. And his next big court appearance is in November at his own criminal sentencing."Kamala Harris
Trump also defended his conduct and role in the Capitol Hill riots on 6 January 2021. While he did acknowledge that his supporters marched towards the Capitol, he reiterated that he had asked them to do so "peacefully and patriotically".
He further alleged that the Democrats' rhetoric against him was responsible for the assassination attempt on him during a rally in Pennsylvania in July.
"I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things that they say about me. They talk about democracy. ‘I’m a threat to democracy.’ They’re the threat to democracy,” Trump stated.
Meanwhile, Harris took a dig at Trump over the question of abortion, saying that the former president would sign the national abortion ban if elected to office once again.
"In over 20 years, there are 'Trump abortion bans'. They don't make exception even in rape and incest. If Trump becomes president, he will sign the national abortion ban," the vice-president said, adding that his policies were "insulting to the women of America".
Trump, in his rebuttal, accused Harris of lying. "She is lying. I'm not signing the ban. There is no reason to sign the ban," he said.
The vice-president, however, kept up the attack – saying that Trump was responsible for the overturning of the historic Roe v Wade judgment.
"Donald Trump hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v Wade, and they did exactly as he intended."Kamala Harris
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Harris' Racial Identity
Meanwhile, Harris indirectly addressed jibes by Trump over the last few months regarding her racial identity.
On a number of occasions, Trump had alleged that Harris had always identified herself as a person of Indian origin, but was now "using the African American card" to garner support from the community.
While Harris did not address Trump's specific allegations, she said:
"It is a tragedy that we have someone who wants to be president, who has consistently over the course of his career attempted to use race to divide the American people."
She also highlighted an alleged "pressure campaign" initiated by Trump in 1989 against the 'Central Park Five', a group of African American men accused of committing a rape in New York and later acquitted.
At the time, Trump had taken out full-page ads in several newspapers that read: "Bring back the death penalty".
How Do Candidates Plan on Dealing With Ongoing Wars?
The contenders also gave their two cents on how they plan to deal with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars.
Trump said that Israel would "cease to exist" if Harris were elected to the White House, adding that the war in Gaza would not have begun if he were in office.
"She [Harris] hates Israel. At the same time, in her own way, she hates the Arab population because the whole place is going to get blown up – Arabs, Jewish people, Israel. Israel will be gone," Trump said.
On the other hand, Harris reiterated her stance that while Israel has the right to self-defence, the war must come to an end.
"Israel has a right to defend itself, and how it does so matters, because it is also true far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed – children, mothers. What we know is that this war must end," the Democratic nominee said.
On the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump stated that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy respected him, and that he would initiate a meeting between the two if elected.
"I want this war to stop. I will get it settled before I even become president. I'll get them [Zelenskyy and Putin] together. That war would have never happened."Donald Trump
On the other hand, Harris said that if Trump were in the White House, "Putin would have been sitting in Kyiv" by now.
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