U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has accused former President Donald Trump of being susceptible to manipulation by dictators like North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Harris made the remark during the 2024 U.S. presidential debate, which took place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday.
This statement followed the heated presidential debate between Trump and Harris, where Harris skillfully put Trump on the defensive in a highly charged exchange. With the 2024 U.S. election just weeks away, the debate became a critical moment for both candidates as they battled for an edge in the close race.
Ajayi, a political analyst, remarked, “Kamala Harris handled Trump effectively in their first face-to-face debate. She clearly won and left no doubt about her capability.”
Ajayi noted that Harris exploited Trump’s weaknesses, setting traps that he repeatedly fell into. According to fact-checkers, Harris made only one incorrect claim during the debate, while Trump made 33 false statements over the 90-minute session.
Throughout the debate, Trump often responded to Harris’s jabs by repeating conspiracy theories, particularly around immigration and the 2020 election. Despite fact-checking from the moderators, Trump stood by controversial claims, including a bizarre assertion that immigrants were consuming pets in the U.S., a statement dismissed by local authorities in Springfield.
In a debate performance that gained support from pop star Taylor Swift, Harris provoked Trump on topics like abortion, democracy, and foreign policy. Their exchanges were marked by intense personal attacks, with Harris ultimately gaining the upper hand, according to snap polls and commentators.
Harris, who unexpectedly took over the Democratic ticket from President Joe Biden, faced enormous pressure to perform. She started strong, catching Trump off guard with a handshake before maintaining control throughout much of the debate.
Trump, at times visibly frustrated, raised his voice in response to Harris’s criticisms, including calling her a “Marxist” and blaming her for the Biden administration’s perceived failures.
One of the most heated moments came when Trump discussed his role in ending the federal right to abortion, claiming he wanted states to decide on the issue. Harris dismissed his remarks as a “bunch of lies” and labeled his stance “insulting to the women of America.”
When Trump refused to acknowledge the 2020 election results, which he had unsuccessfully tried to overturn, Harris mocked him by referencing his famous reality TV show catchphrase, stating that Trump had been “fired by 81 million people.”
Harris also highlighted Trump’s criminal conviction, called him “extreme,” and emphasized that he had used race to divide the nation.
In terms of foreign policy, Harris told Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin would “eat you for lunch” over the Ukraine conflict and that world leaders were “laughing” at him. Trump countered by accusing Harris of weakness on issues like Gaza, even claiming she “hated Israel.”
Despite Trump’s comebacks, Harris’s preparation for the debate allowed her to maintain the upper hand, keeping Trump on the defensive with sharp, pointed remarks that frequently drew frustration from the former president. She also took the opportunity to mock the size of Trump’s rallies, suggesting that attendees were leaving early out of “exhaustion and boredom.”