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US Presidential Debate Highlights: Trump claims Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are 'eating the pets' of AmericansRepublican Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris immediately went on the offensive in the opening segment of their first presidential debate on Tuesday, each seeking a campaign-altering moment in their closely fought election. Harris, 59, attacked Trump's intention to impose high tariffs on foreign goods - a proposal she has likened to a sales tax on the middle class - while touting her plan to offer tax benefits to families and small businesses. Trump, 78, criticized Harris for the persistent inflation during the Biden administration's term, though he overstated the level of price increases. He also pivoted quickly to his top issue, immigration, claiming again without evidence that immigrants from "insane asylums" are crossing the U.S. southern border with Mexico. Follow DH for more updates!
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<div class="paragraphs"><p>People watch the presidential debate between Trump and Harris, in New York.</p></div>

People watch the presidential debate between Trump and Harris, in New York.

Credit: Reuters Photo

Trump actually thanked President Xi for what he did during Covid, says Harris

Trump on Harris in early moments

Trump, who has spent weeks launching personal attacks on Harris that have included racist and sexist insults, largely avoided insults during the debate's early moments. But he called her a "Marxist" as he grew increasingly agitated.

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Harris on Trump in early moments

Harris also criticized Trump over his criminal conviction for covering up hush money payments to a porn star as well as his other indictments and a civil judgment finding him liable for sexual assault. Trump has denied wrongdoing and again accused Harris and the Democrats of orchestrating all of the cases without evidence.

'My rallies, we have the biggest rallies': Trump

Trump, who has been frustrated by the size of Harris' own crowds, said, "My rallies, we have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics." He then pivoted to an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory claiming that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are "eating the pets" of residents.

"Talk about extreme," Harris said, laughing.


(Reuters)

American economy

Summary

Harris: "I believe in the ambition, the aspirations, the dreams of the American people, and that is why I imagine and have actually a plan to build what I call an opportunity economy."

Trump: "Look, we've had a terrible economy, because inflation, which is really known as a country buster."

Abortion laws

Harris: "I pledge to you, when Congress passes a bill to put back in place the protections of Roe v Wade as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law."

Trump: "Now, I believe in the exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. ... Now states are voting on it. ... Each individual state is voting. It's the vote of the people. Now it's not tied up in the federal government."

Immigration

Harris: "I'll tell you something, he's going to talk about immigration a lot tonight, even when it's not the subject that is being raised."

Trump: "Our country is being lost, we're a failing nation," Trump said, referring to people crossing into the country illegally.

Assassination attempt

"I probably took a bullet to the head for the things they say about me," Trump said.

Truthfulness

Harris: "As I said, you're gonna hear a bunch of lies, and that's not actually a surprising fact."

Trump: "There she goes again. It's a lie," said Trump after Harris said he would sign a national abortion ban were he to win office.

We'll do away with Obamacare if we come up with a better alternative, says Trump

JAN. 6, 2021, Capitol Attack

Harris: "I was at the Capitol. I was the vice president-elect. I was also a senator and on that day, the president of the United States incited a violent mob to attack our nation's capital, to desecrate our nation's capital."

Trump: "I had nothing to do with that, other than they asked me to make a speech."

Trump on Harris: She’s a Marxist; everybody knows she’s a Marxist. Her father is a Marxist professor in economics, and he taught her well..."

Eric, son of the former president on the debate

Trump claims Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are "eating the pets" of residents.

Trump slams down on the issue of economy

"People can't go out and buy cereal or bacon or eggs or anything else. The people of our country are absolutely dying with what they've done. They've destroyed the economy," said Trump.

Israel-Gaza conflict

Harris: "It must end immediately, and the way it will end is we need a ceasefire deal, and we need the hostages out."

Trump: "She hates Israel. If she's president, I believe that Israel will not exist within two years from now," he said, to which Harris replied, ""That's absolutely not true. I have my entire career and life supported Israel and the Israeli people."

Ukraine

Trump: "I want the war to stop. I want to save lives," Trump said, when asked if he wanted Ukraine to win the war with Russia.

Harris: "If Donald Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now," said Harris."

Mark Ruffalo praises Kamala Harris' performance in the debate

Kamala Harris declares gun ownership

Here's what chess legend Gary Kasparov had to say about the debate

Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris for US President

I have the endorsement of 200 Republicans who formerly worked with President Bush, Mitt Romney, and John McCain.: Kamala Harris