The long-awaited presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is over, but it left Americans with some iconic moments that are likely to be talked about until the November presidential election.
One of these moments was Trump spreading internet rumors that illegal immigrants were eating Americans’ pets in Springfield, Ohio. Trump was referring to a recently emerged baseless claim that a Haitian woman had been accused of eating her neighbor’s pet.
Debate moderator David Muir immediately fact-checked Trump, stating that they consulted with the city manager and confirmed that the claims were false. The Springfield police spokesperson and Ohio governor have also debunked the theory that any immigrant tried to steal and eat Americans’ pets. Hearing Trump’s comments, Harris laughed sarcastically and called the remarks “unbelievable.” The problem? It’s not actually baseless. There have been huge numbers of reports from locals who have described their pets disappearing, and some reports of individuals…eating them. Who is telling the truth? It’s hard to know.
The issue of abortion also became a highlight of the September 10 debate. Trump praised the six conservative Supreme Court justices, three of whom he appointed himself, for overturning Roe v. Wade and turning abortion into a state-level issue. As you would expect.
Harris, on the other hand, introduced an emotional angle to the debate, stating that many women are unable to get abortions even after miscarriages. She claimed that doctors often refuse to perform abortions because they fear facing jail terms.
Trump claimed that he supports abortion access in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is at risk as he dismissed concerns that he will enforce stringent abortion bans in his second term. But that didn’t stop Harris from claiming otherwise.
The former president also pressed Harris for promoting abortions in the “seventh, eighth, and ninth” months of pregnancy. Harris did not deny these claims, funnily enough.
Another iconic moment happened when Trump asked Harris to stop interrupting him when it was his turn to speak. Trump told Harris, “I’m talking now,” reminding viewers of the 2020 vice presidential debate when Harris told Mike Pence, “I am speaking.” The exchange occurred when Trump was discussing the Russia-Ukraine war, but Harris interrupted him even though her microphone had been muted. Remember that?
In the wake of the debate, rumors are circulating that Trump may back out of appearing in another – and even former Republican Governor of New Jersey Christ Christie has warned Harris against debating Trump for a second time. So who knows…this might have been the last time we see Trump and Harris go head to head. Unless, God forbid, Harris wins and Trump runs for a fourth time…
