Presidential debate recap: Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump clash in fiery debate
The presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has concluded, and oh boy was it a wild ride.
It was the second debate for the 2024 election, however, since the first, the Democratic nominee has changed from President Joe Biden to Harris.
With polls this week revealing a neck-and-neck race, the debate was a pivotal moment for Republicans and Democrats.
Meeting for the first time, Harris attempted to show she was not afraid of Trump from the get-go, directly approaching the former President at his podium, introducing herself to her opponent.
Donald Trump claimed immigrants were eating cats and Harris again had to clarify her stance on fracking and guns.
Harris’ debate performance secured a major celebrity endorsement from Taylor Swift, and Trump claimed the he won online.
Taking place at the National Constitution Centre in Philadelphia, the 90-minute debate was anchored by David Muir and Linsey Davis from ABC News.
Scroll down for the biggest moments of the historic second presidential debate in the 2024 race to The White House.
Key Events
A deeper look at some of the biggest moments
Now the debate has wrapped, let’s dive into some of the biggest and most unusual moments.
The only place to begin is the now-viral moment Donald Trump said immigrants were eating pets.
Trump made the comments Tuesday early in his first debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, shortly after Harris mocked his rallies as so filled with fictions and fringe theories that attendees leave early. Trump responded by trying to pivot back to the subject under discussion, immigration.
“A lot of towns don’t want to talk about it because they’re so embarrassed by it,” he said. “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating — they’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”
Officials have said there are no credible claims that this is happening.
When told this during the debate, Trump said he knew it was true because he had “seen people on television.”
Who won the debate?
The second presidential debate was a wild ride.
Some of the more unusual comments from Trump included accusations that immigrants were eating dogs (something he knows to be true because he saw it on TV) and his accusation that Democrats want to allow abortions after children are already born.
Trump claimed wars would end within days of his attempts to end them.
However, Trump continuously called Harris a liar, planted seeds of doubt in the minds of Americans (regardless of whether they were based on fact) and pointed out Harris had ample time in office already to have brought her many ideas to life.
Harris took the opportunity to share her plans, speak directly to the people and attempt to capture a nations desire to be better.
The vice president refused to bite at Trump’s many baits, stayed professional and attempted to paint the former president as “confused” and “extreme”.
It would be easy to say that Harris won the debate as she managed to answer more questions, be factual and deliver a character building performance.
However, that ignores the fact that Trump gave Trump-lovers exactly what they expect.
They want to hear that Harris is lying (be it true or not) or that Trump will end wars with a couple of phone calls.
So although Harris “won” the debate, she is still a long way from winning the race for The White House.
Trump asks ‘Why hasn’t she done it’
“She just started by saying she’s going to do this, she’s going to do that, she’s going to do all these wonderful things,” Trump said.
“Why hasn’t she done it?
“She’s been there for three and a half years.
“They’ve had three and a half years.
“She should leave right now, go down to that beautiful White House, go to the Capitol, get everyone together and do the things you want together.
“We’re a nation that’s in serious decline.
“We’re being laughed at all over the world, all over the world they’re laughing.
“I know the leaders very well.
“They’re coming to see me. They call me. We’re laughed at all over the world.
“They’re destroying our country. The worst President, the worst vice- president in the history of our country.”
Harris says she will be a president for the people
“I think you’ve heard tonight two very different visions for our country,” the vice president said.
“One that is focused on the future and the other that is focused on the past.
“And an attempt to take us backward.
“But we’re not going back and I do believe that the American people know we all have so much more in common than what separates us and we can chart a new way forward.”
“I believe in what we can do together that is about sustaining America’s standing in the world and ensuring that we have the respect that we so rightly deserve, including respecting our military and ensuring we have the most lethal fighting force in the world.
“I will be a President who will protect our fundamental rights and freedoms,including the right of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell you what to do.
Harris spoke about being a prosecutor who has only ever had one client. The people.
“I intend to be a President for all Americans and focus on what we can do over the next 10 and 20 years to build back up our country by investing right now in you, the American people.”
Closing statements up next
The moderated questions have wrapped up for the second presidential debate.
After a short break, each candidate will deliver their closing statement.
Trump won a virtual coin toss, so Harris will speak first allowing Trump to have the final opportunity to talk.
Trump’s climate response
The former president didn’t really address climate change.
Instead he spoke about how manufacturing jobs are leaving the US.
“They’re all leaving. They are building big auto plants in Mexico, in many cases owned by China.
“They’re building these massive plants and they think they’re going to sell their cars into the United States because of these people (Democrats).
Is climate change real or a hoax? It depends on which candidate you speak to...
For young voters, climate change is one of the biggest issues.
“The former president has said climate change is a hoax,” Harris said.
“What we know is that it is very real.
“We know that we can actually deal with this issue.”
‘Stop lying’: Harris tells Trump off
Harris paused the debate to look and Trump and tell him off for lying.
Trump has made continued comments about Harris on fracking and her desire to take guns away.
“I need to respond to a previous point the former president has made,” Harris said.
“I have made very clear my position on fracking and then this business about taking everyone’s guns away.
“Tim Walz and I are both gun owners.
“We’re not taking anybody’s guns away so stop with the continuous lying about this stuff.”
Trump has a ‘concept of a plan’
Trump was asked what his plans were as President.
Trump went on talk about Obama Care and other policies.
When asked to answer yes or no to the question of if he had a plan, Trump said: “I have concepts of a plan. I’m not President right now.”
Harris reminds Trump she is not Biden
“Clearly, I’m not Joe Biden and I am certainly not Donald Trump,” Harris said.
“What I do offer is a new generation of leadership for our country, one who believes in what is possible, one who brings a sense of optimism about what we can do instead of always disparaging the American people.
“Let’s talk about our plans and let’s compare the plans.
That’s the kind of conversation I believe people really want tonight.”
