In the US presidential debate of the 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump faced each other for the first time. The debate was hosted by ABC News.
In the heated debate that ensued between the presidential candidates that could shape the US presidential elections, the two candidates expressed differing views with respect to tax cuts, trade wars with China and more.
Kamala Harris was criticised by Donald Trump for the persistent inflation during Biden's term, though he overstated the level of price increases.
It is reported that Trump's fellow Republicans and fellow advisors urged him to talk about the high levels of inflation and immigration during Biden's term.
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Trump banked on immigration, his top issue, claiming without evidence that immigrants from "insane asylums" are crossing the US southern border with Mexico.
Personally attacking Kamal Harris, Trump said that people like Kamala Harris are pouring into the country monthly more than the 15 million they estimated. He said he believes that the immigrant population in the country stood at 21 million.
"That's bigger than New York state. Pouring in. And just look at what they're doing to our country. They're criminals. Many of these people coming in are criminals. And that's bad for our economy too," he said.
Kamala Harris said that she plans to improve the economy by extending the tax cut for families with children and a tax deduction for small businesses. She also attacked Trump's plans to impose broad tariffs as a "sales tax" on goods that the American people will ultimately pay.
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Kamala alleged that Trump's administration resulted in a trade deficit, which was one of the highest in the history of America.
She stated that Trump invited America to join trade wars with China and sold American chips to China which ended up improving and modernising their military. She said that Trump sold America out when a policy about China should be in making sure the United States of America wins the competition for the 21st century.
Responding to Harris, Trump stated contrary to what Harris claims, China bought their chips from Taiwan.
"We hardly make chips anymore because of philosophies like they have and policies like they have. I don't say her because she has no policy. Everything that she believed three years ago and four years ago is out the window. She's going to my philosophy now. In fact, I was going to send her a MAGA hat," he said.
