Trump-Harris debate highlights: Trump falls apart as he lies and rambles over ‘eating pets’ and Harris’s race
Latest coverage as the second presidential debate, hosted by ABC News, kicks off in Philadelphia
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Vice President Kamala Harris immediately laid out her economic policy while on the debate stage in Philadelphia while former President Donald Trump shared familiar sentiments.
After taking the stage the candidates shared an unexpected handshake, with Harris extending her hand to her Republican rival first.
The debate, hosted by ABC, is also the first since President Joe Biden stepped down from the Democratic ticket in July, though the rules remain the same. That means muted microphones, no pre-written notes, no live audience, no sitting and no speaking with campaign staff during commercial breaks.
It comes as the latest national polls show Harris having a 2.8-point lead over Trump.
Trump is expected to link his Democratic rival with the perceived policy failings of Biden’s administration, blaming her for illegal immigration at America’s southern border and for the high cost of living as the economy continues its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
For her part, Harris, a veteran prosecutor and former California attorney general, will hope to draw attention to Trump’s disastrous record in office, culpability for inspiring the Capitol riot of January 6 and long history of lawlessness, dishonesty and dysfunction.
What we can expect from Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in tonight’s debate
I spoke to people who have debated Harris and Trump. This is what they told me- Team Trump hopes debate will help country move past Harris ‘honeymoon’
Chris Christie, former Trump debate coach, offers key pieces of advice to Harris before Tuesday face-off- Trump’s campaign staffers are worried ‘angry Trump’ will show up to debate and self-sabotage
When does the presidential debate end?
The candidates have been onstage since 9pm ET (8pm CT).
The debate was expected to last 90 minutes, finishing around 10.30pm ET (9.30pm)... so not long to go now.
Trump rambles on ending the war in Ukraine by sitting down with Putin and Zelensky
Asked if he wanted Ukraine to win its war against Russia, Trump replied: “I want the war to stop. I want to save lives... People being killed by the millions. It's the millions. It's so much worse than the numbers that you're getting, which are fake numbers.
He continued: “I know [Ukrainian president Volodymyr] Zelensky very well, and I know [Russian president] Putin very well. I have a good relationship, and they respect your president. Okay? They respect me.
“That is a war that's dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president, if I win When I'm President Elect, and what I'll do is I'll speak to one I'll speak to the other. I'll get them together, that war would have never happened.”
“We're playing with World War Three, and we have a president that we don't even know if he's. Where is our president? We don't even know if he's a president... they threw him out of the campaign like a dog.”
Responding to the rambling response, Harris said: “First of all, it's important to remind the former president, you're not running against Joe Biden, you're running against me.”
Watch: Donald Trump sasses Kamala Harris for interruption while calling her 'radical left'
Viewers react to debate first half
John Logan, a 26-year-old independent voter who attended the DC Young Republicans Watch Party, said he thinks Kamala Harris is winning the debate.
But Logan says he won’t be voting for either candidate.
“I can't really endorse either candidate fully, not with kamala's record in her past, and with Trump, the way that he incites people, I can't support them,” Logan told The Independent.
Alex Woodward notes:
“Trump has said he lost ‘by a whisker’ at least three times at public events within the last few weeks. At no point did it ever appear he was being sarcastic, but he has repeatedly used ‘sarcasm’ to excuse lies and attacks throughout his campaigns and presidency.
“Crucially: If he ever actually admits that he lost, that would prove a point in criminal indictments against him. At the heart of his election interference charges is that he pursued attempts to unlawfully overturn results despite knowing that he in fact had lost.”
Harris: ‘World leaders are laughing at Donald Trump'
Kamala Harris blasted Donald Trump’s “temperament... [and] ability”.
“Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people... let's be clear about that, and clearly he is having a very difficult time processing that.
“But we cannot afford to have a President of the United States who attempts, as he did in the past, to upend the will of the voters in a free and fair election. And I'm going to tell you that I have traveled the world as vice president, United States, and world leaders are laughing at Donald Trump.”
In his response Trump quoted Hungarian prime minister Victor Orban who, he claimed, had described him has “the most respected, most feared person.”
Watch: Trump repeats debunked cat-eating claims during debate with Harris
Harris appeals to voters after question about peaceful transfer of power
Following a question about the peaceful transference of power, Kamala Harris appealed directly to voters.
“For everyone watching, who remembers what January 6 was I say: we don't have to go back. Let's not go back. We're not going back. It's time to turn the page,” she said.
“And if that was a bridge too far for you, well, there is a place in our campaign for you to stand for country, to stand democracy, to stand for rule of law and to end the chaos and to end the approach that is about attacking the foundations of our democracy because you don't like the outcome.”
During his answer, Trump denied all involvement with the storming of the Capitol on January 6.
“I had nothing to do with that, other than they asked me to make a speech. I showed up for a speech. I said, I think it's going to be big,” he said.
Trump hits Harris with her own campaign phrase ‘I’m talking now’
Donald Trump hit Kamala Harris with her own words, snapping: “Wait a minute, I'm talking now, if you don't mind, please. Does that sound familiar?”
At a previous campaign rally, Harris responded to pro-Palestinian protesters by telling them “I am talking now.”
Having being given his chance to speak on Monday, an audibly flustered Trump continued: “She wants to do transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison. This is a radical left liberal that would do this.
“She wants to confiscate your guns, and she will never allow fracking in Pennsylvania.”
The Independent’s take: Harris is under Trump’s skin
From The Independent’s White House Correspondent Andrew Feinberg:
“Harris has checked her biggest and most important box so far — get under Trump's skin. With one line about crowd size at his rallies, she got him to launch into a bizarre rant that ended with him repeating insane claims about migrants eating dogs.
“She's clearly under his skin. And burrowing deeper.”
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