Washington/Philadelphia. The Republican rages like a wild bull in the TV debate – also because the moderators do not let him get away with every lie.
She demonstratively shook his hand at the beginning. Afterwards, Kamala Harris held out her hand in the TV debate against Donald Trump. Republican opponents In the race for the White House, he kept his distance for over 100 minutes with smiles, head shakes, razor-sharp rejections and tough attacks.
The Democratic presidential candidate, who is running for the first time in a four-year break Debate stage After just a few minutes, he was able to get under the skin of the initially sedate-looking challenger.
Trump acted “like a bull”
She accused Trump, unlike her, of having “no plan” for the American people because in the end he only ever thinks of himself. From then on, the 78-year-old, who almost always spoke with downturned corners of the mouth looked grim, in the words of one US columnist, “like a bull that is so angry that it can no longer see the matador’s red cloth”.
Donald Trump made no effort to hide his anger. © AFP | SAUL LOEB
In doing so, Trump’s advisor had previously persuaded him with the tongue of an angel not to be baited, to refrain from personal insults and to only make it clear along the lines of the factual issues that America is worse off after almost four years of Biden/Harris than under his presidency, which expired in 2021.
Just a few minutes after the end of the meeting between the two candidates for the highest office in the state, Trump gun-cockers pushed the Moderator team of ABC for the fact that Trump appeared as a loser in the first flash polls.
Moderators correct Trump lies
David Muir and Linsey Davis subjected Trump to a number of fact checks, during which the former president stood naked in the clearing. The first time Trump was in the Abortion debate Contrary to all facts, she claimed that Democrats supported abortions up to the ninth month of pregnancy and even “executed” babies after birth. According to Linsey Davis, this is not legal in a single state.
Harris kept laughing when Trump said grotesque things. © AFP | SAUL LOEB
Also on the topic illegal immigrationwhich ran like a thread through almost all of Trump’s answers, the Republican lost face. To support his statement, which has also not been confirmed by any government authority, that under the responsibility of the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris administration, over 20 million immigrants from over 160 countries have come to the country, including “millions of criminals, murderers, mentally ill people and child molesters”, he spread a fantasy story that has been circulating in right-wing populist circles for days. According to this, refugees in Springfield, Ohio, are eating Americans’ pets (dogs and cats). David Muir quoted local officials: “We are not aware of any of this.”
Harris accuses Trump of blocking legislation
With each correction, Trump became more and more unrestrained. He called Harris a “Marxist” who had destroyed America and would turn the country into “Venezuela on steroids.” Trump repeatedly claimed that the United States, which is the world’s best economic leader in dealing with the disastrous Corona Pandemic are “a nation in decline”; also and above all because the Democrats have imported millions of illegal immigrants.
Harris countered that a bipartisan bill had been drafted months ago that would have significantly improved the situation at the Mexican border, but Trump had instructed the Republicans to “kill” the project in order to Election campaign close.
The 59-year-old, who has previously been denied the ability to navigate a debate freely and without a teleprompter, was consistently controlled, emotionally stable, confident in her facts and presidential manner. Right at the start, she warned the audience watching at home: “You’re going to hear a lot of lies.”
Harris plays the prosecutor
Unlike Trump, who constantly stared straight ahead, Harris repeatedly turned to him directly. Her gestures and facial expressions revealed her professional background as Public ProsecutorShe spoke to Trump as she had spoken to defendants in many trials. Trump was clearly uncomfortable with the cross-examination technique.
Also interesting
The former president was as we have known him since he first announced his candidacy in 2015: irritable, sensitive, egomaniacal, blustering, often miles away from the truth and overly simplistic in his issues. He claimed again that the wars in Ukraine and Gaza would never have happened under his aegis. And that he would resolve both conflicts in no time. He did not say how. Kamala Harris replied that the Russian president would be “standing in Kiev” today if Trump were at the helm. PutinAccording to the Californian, Trump would “eat her for lunch”.
Great effort, friendly Trump did not make any effort to appeal to the more moderate, undecided sections of voters on whom he is so desperately dependent. His main goal – he wanted to hold Harris completely responsible for Joe Biden’s policies, which revolve around inflation, illegal immigration and high consumer prices – was “missed” according to analysts in several US media outlets.
Harris challenges Trump to a second duel
Only after 100 minutes did Trump remember to remark that Harris has been sharing responsibility for almost four years and that many of her announcements in economic and social policy could have been implemented long ago. Attempts to throw Harris off track also failed because his microphone was switched off when the Democracy had the floor.
Also interesting
Trump reacted visibly agitated to several attempts by Harris to take away his self-awarded aura of a great Statesman Other heads of government laughed at him, she said, referring to her many state visits. Leading military officers considered the 78-year-old “a disgrace.” Pop superstar Taylor Swift must have thought the same. After months of reticence, she officially declared her support for Harris’ election on social media shortly after the debate ended.
Capital Inside by Jörg Quoos, Editor-in-Chief of the FUNKE Central Editorial Office
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The incumbent Vice President, who in her closing remarks renewed her promise to “turn over a new leaf” and to act for all Americans regardless of party preference (“I have only one customer – the people”) was apparently so sure of her success in the debate, as confirmed by commentators, that she offered Trump a second meeting in October. There has been no reaction from there so far. Trump, no wonder, considers himself the clear winner.