Fact check: Trump-Harris presidential debate — truths and falsehoods
Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and her Republican rival Donald Trump met face to face for the first time in Tuesday’s presidential debate in Philadelphia. During the debate, they exchanged various accusations; here, we fact-check the candidates’ claims. Harris ‘wouldn’t even meet’ Netanyahu Trump: Harris “wouldn’t even meet with” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “when he went to Congress to make a very important speech. She refused to be there because she was at a sorority party of hers.” Half true. This needs context. Harris did skip Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of the US Congress on July 24. She was busy making a previously scheduled keynote speech to the Zeta Phi Beta sorority. However, Harris met Netanyahu face-to-face the following day. After that meeting, she doubled down on support for Israel, committing to its defence, but also referred to the growing death toll of the war in Gaza, in which more than 41,000 people have been killed, and said she would not stay silent. Harris, right, and Netanyahu arrive for a meeting at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building [File: Julia Nikhinson/AP] Trump misleads about military equipment in Afghanistan Trump: The US “left $85bn worth of brand new, beautiful military equipment behind” in Afghanistan. False. The figure is far lower than Trump stated. When the Taliban toppled Afghanistan’s civilian government in 2021, it inherited military hardware the US gave to the government. However, an independent inspector general report told Congress that only about $7bn of US-funded equipment remained in the Taliban’s hands. According to the report, “The US military removed or destroyed nearly all major equipment used by US troops in Afghanistan throughout the drawdown period in 2021.” Families board a US Air Force plane during an evacuation at Kabul airport [File: Sgt Samuel Ruiz/US Marine Corps via AP] Haitian immigrants ‘are eating the cats’ Trump: “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.” False. A city spokesperson told PolitiFact that claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are stealing neighbours’ pets to eat are unfounded. A Springfield spokesperson said the city had no such reports, and police told a local news outlet the department had received no reports of pets being stolen and eaten. As many as 20,000 Haitian immigrants have come to Springfield. Since 2023, some Haitians have come to the US through the Department of Homeland Security’s humanitarian parole programme that lets people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela and their immediate family members request to come to the US legally. They can be paroled into the US for up to two years. Additional ‘Trump sales tax’ of $4,000 Harris: “Economists have said that the Trump sales tax would actually result for middle-class families in about $4,000 more a year because of his policies and his ideas about what should be the backs of middle-class people paying for tax cuts for billionaires.” Half true. Trump has repeatedly proposed wide-ranging tariffs on foreign goods, including an across-the-board tariff of 10 percent to 20 percent and a 60 percent levy on goods from China. Although tariffs are imposed separately from the tax system, consumers would feel their effect much the same way as taxes. However, the specific dollar impact on consumers varies. Two estimates we found generally support Harris’s $4,000 figure; two show a smaller, though still significant, impact. Trump, on the screen at left, and Harris, right [Matt Rourke/AP] ‘Worst unemployment since the Great Depression’ Harris: “Donald Trump left us the worst unemployment since the Great Depression.” False. The unemployment rate spiked to a post-Great Depression record of 14.8 percent in April 2020 as the COVID pandemic escalated. Trump was in office then. But he didn’t “leave” Biden or Harris with a post-Great Depression record unemployment rate. By December 2020, the unemployment rate had fallen back to 6.4 percent, which was high for recent history but well below numerous spikes during recessions. Job creation ‘fraud’ Trump: “It was a fraud, just like their number of 818,000 jobs that they said they created turned out to be a fraud.” False. The federal agency that calculates how many people are working handed Democrats an unwelcome present during their August national convention in Chicago: a downward adjustment of the past year’s employment gains by 818,000 jobs. But Trump claimed the Biden-Harris administration was cooking the books, calling it “fraud” during the debate. However, economists across the ideological spectrum reject Trump’s claim. The process is an annual effort to fine-tune initial data that the agency acknowledges is imperfect. Abortion: Democrats support ‘execution after birth’ Trump: “They even have … he said, ‘The baby we will be born, and we will decide what to do with the baby.’” False. Former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, a physician, never said he would sanction the “execution” of newborns. What he said during a radio interview is that in rare, late-pregnancy cases when fetuses are nonviable, doctors deliver the baby, keep it comfortable, resuscitate it if the mother wishes, and then have a “discussion” with the mother. The issue is that Northam declines to say what that discussion would entail. Trump puts words in the governor’s mouth, saying doctors would urge mothers to let them forcibly kill the newborn, which is a felony in Virginia punishable by a long prison sentence or death. Harris reacts during the debate with Trump [Brian Snyder/Reuters] ‘Climate change is a hoax’ Harris: “Well, the former president had said that climate change is a hoax. And what we know is that it is very real.” True. Trump has, on multiple occasions, called climate change and global warming a hoax in speeches, social media posts and interviews. The source of Harris’s claim that he called climate change “a hoax” was a tweet Trump posted on November 6, 2012. It said, “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive.” More than 97 percent of the world’s climate scientists and a majority of domestic and international scientific organisations agree
Delhi-NCR earthquake today: Tremors felt in Delhi-NCR as 5.8 magnitude quake jolts Pakistan
Delhi-NCR earthquake today: Tremors felt in Delhi-NCR as quake jolts Pakistan
Himachal Pradesh: Protest in Shimla over alleged illegal construction of Sanjauli mosque
The protests have been called by Hindu organizations over the alleged illegal construction of Sanjauli mosque.
Trump, Harris travel to New York City, Shanksville to commemorate 9/11 attacks just hours after debate
Former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris both traveled to New York City following their first presidential debate showdown, to put politics aside and commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Wednesday marks the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Nearly 3,000 people died as the result of a group of terrorists launching coordinated attacks against the U.S. by hijacking and crashing commercial airline planes at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in what became America’s most deadly terrorist attack. HOUSE DEMS ISSUE RESPONSE TO GOP REPORT ON BIDEN’S WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN Trump and Harris participated in their first presidential debate Tuesday night before they both traveled to New York City. First, Trump is expected to visit the World Trade Center site, also known as Ground Zero, to attend the 9/11 memorial commemoration where he is set to deliver brief remarks. Next, Trump is expected to visit New York Fire Department Engine 4, Tower Ladder 15. He is then set to travel to Shanksville to the Flight 93 Memorial. Meanwhile, President Biden and Harris are also expected to visit the 9/11 memorial for the commemoration ceremony. Biden and Harris are then expected to travel to Shanksville for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Flight 93 Memorial. Later, Biden and Harris will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. More than 400 first responders gave their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, including 23 New York City police officers, 37 Port Authority workers and 343 New York City firefighters. The 40 passengers and crew members of Flight 93, all of whom lost their lives, are believed to have prevented a larger attack by fighting back against the terrorists who hijacked the plane. The field in Shanksville where the plane crashed is just a 20-minute flight from the U.S. Capitol. The Biden-Harris administration on Aug. 31, 2021, withdrew all U.S. military assets from Afghanistan, after having a presence for nearly 20 years following the 9/11 attacks. Amid the withdrawal, the Taliban took over Afghanistan and formally announced the formation of its new government. The Taliban’s government before 9/11 was the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan before militants were ousted by U.S.-led forces in the wake of the attacks. The 9/11 attacks were orchestrated by al Qaeda while it was being sheltered by the Taliban.
Top 5 moments during Trump-Harris presidential debate: ‘I’m talking now’
Former President Trump and Vice President Harris faced off for the first time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a debate moderated by ABC News on Tuesday. The event was technically the second presidential debate of the election but was the first since President Biden ended his campaign and Democrats nominated Harris for president instead. A variety of issues were broached during the debate and plenty of shots were taken at one another, but there were several moments that stood out more than others. Here are the top 5 moments from the match-up. ABC DEBATE MODERATOR ACCUSED OF ONLY FACT-CHECKING ONE CANDIDATE Trump said he “was going to send her a MAGA hat,” in reference to Harris, because he claimed the vice president has adopted his political philosophy on the campaign trail. “Everything that she believed three years ago and four years ago is out the window—she’s gone to my philosophy now,” he said during the debate. Harris has notably reversed several policy stances she previously held while in the Senate and on the campaign trail in 2019 and has moderated ahead of the election against Trump. “But, if she ever got elected, she’d change it,” Trump warned. “And it will be the end of our country. She’s a Marxist.” FOX NEWS MEDIA PROPOSES SECOND DEBATE MODERATED BY MARTHA MACCALLUM, BRET BAIER The former president responded to warnings from Harris of him being an authoritarian in a second term by suggesting her and Biden’s remarks could have prompted the assassination attempt against him in July. “This is the one that weaponized. Not me. She weaponized,” Trump said in response to Harris’ claims. “I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things that they say about me,” he said. Trump was shot in the ear at a July rally in Pennsylvania before the Secret Service killed the shooter and escorted him offstage. “They talk about democracy—I’m a threat to democracy. They’re the threat to democracy with the fake Russia Russia Russia investigation that went nowhere,” Trump added. TRUMP SLAMS BIDEN-HARRIS ADMIN FOR LETTING ‘MILLIONS OF CRIMINALS’ INTO THE COUNTRY The vice president told moderators, “clearly, I am not Joe Biden” after Trump slammed the Biden-Harris administration’s economic policy and said, “she is Biden.” “She is trying to get away from Biden,” he said. Harris responded, explaining that she is not Biden and adding that she is “certainly not Donald Trump.” “What I do offer is a new generation of leadership for our country,” she said. FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TAKES PAGE FROM VP HARRIS 2020 DEBATE PERFORMANCE “Do you believe you bear any responsibility in the way that withdrawal played out?” Harris was asked by a moderator. “Well, I will tell you, I agreed with President Biden’s decision to pull out of Afghanistan.” she said. “Four presidents said they would and Joe Biden did.” During the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, 13 U.S. service members were killed in a terrorist attack. Trump also pointed out that the withdrawal left U.S. resources and equipment behind in the country in the unorganized departure. Harris did not respond to the question posed by ABC’s moderators on whether she feels any responsibility for the nature of the withdrawal. VOTER SLAMS HARRIS FOR ‘RACE BAITING’ AND ‘FEAR MONGERING’ DURING DEBATE Trump used a quip on Tuesday evening similar to one made famous in 2020 by Harris during the vice presidential debate. “Wait a minute, I’m talking now if you don’t mind. Please,” the former president said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Harris could be seen on camera interjecting after Trump said she was a supporter of defunding the police. Her response could not be heard because her microphone was muted. Trump’s quote was a callback to Harris’ own remark in 2020 to then-Vice President Mike Pence. “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking. I’m speaking,” she said at the time when Pence began to interject. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
“Not satisfied with…”: RG Kar victim doctor’s parents question Bengal CM role in case
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Rahul Gandhi agrees with PM Modi’s this policy, says, ‘don’t see him diverting…’
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Democrats heap praise on Harris’ debate performance, say she ‘destroyed’ Trump’s career
Democratic elected officials and political operatives heaped praise on Vice President Kamala Harris for her debate performance against former President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening. “America got to see tonight the leader I’ve been proud to work alongside for three and a half years. Wasn’t even close. VP Harris proved she’s the best choice to lead our nation forward. We’re not going back,” President Biden posted on X early Wednesday morning after the debate wrapped up. “Well, that was a knockout. I’m looking forward to seeing how Republicans try to spin this one,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer posted to X in another favorable message for Harris. Trump and Harris took the same debate stage for the first time this election cycle on Tuesday evening in Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center. The pair sparred over the top issues concerning voters, including the economy, immigration and abortion. TRUMP FACT CHECKS HARRIS ON CHARLOTTESVILLE RIOT ACCUSATION: ‘DEBUNKED’ Harris’ Democratic allies in Congress, as well as Democratic pundits, praised Harris for how she “destroyed” Trump’s career, and that voters bore witness to a “serious leader who will work day in and out” for the American people. TRUMP SAYS HE ‘PROBABLY TOOK A BULLET TO THE HEAD’ DUE TO DEM RHETORIC The Harris campaign also released a statement Tuesday evening, taking a victory lap that “Harris commanded the stage on every single issue that matters to the American people.” “Under the bright lights, the American people got to see the choice they will face this fall at the ballot box: between moving forward with Kamala Harris, or going backwards with Trump. That’s what they saw tonight and what they should see at a second debate in October. Vice President Harris is ready for a second debate. Is Donald Trump?” the Harris campaign posted. Trump and Harris sparred on top issues concerning voters on Tuesday evening, including on abortion, when Harris claimed Trump’s platform would install a national abortion ban that would allow for no exceptions to such a procedure. HARRIS CLAIMS TRUMP ABORTION PLATFORM MAKES ‘NO EXCEPTION,’ MOMENTS AFTER TRUMP SAYS THE OPPOSITE “Now, in over 20 states, there are Trump abortion bans, which make it criminal for a doctor or nurse to provide health care in one state. It provides prison for life. Trump abortion bans that make no exception, even for rape and incest, which understand what that means,” Harris said Tuesday evening from Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center. “A survivor of a crime of violation to their body does not have the right to make a decision about what happens to their body. That is immoral, and one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government and Donald Trump certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with her body.” Moments before, however, Trump said he believes in exceptions for abortion, similar to former President Reagan. “I believe in the exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother,” Trump said during the debate. “I believe strongly in it. Ronald Reagan did also. Eighty-five percent of Republicans knew exceptions are very important.” Trump and Harris also traded barbs on the issue of crime in the United States, as Harris defended accusations that migrant crime has increased under her watch by citing Trump’s legal issues. “Yeah, it is much higher because of them,” Trump said during the debate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania discussing crime committed by illegal immigrants in the U.S., some of which entered the country under Biden’s watch. “They allowed criminals, many, many millions of criminals,” Trump continued, “They allowed terrorists. They allowed common street criminals. They allowed people to come in drug dealers to come into our country. And then now in the United States and told by their countries like Venezuela, don’t ever come back or we’re going to kill you. Do you know that crime in Venezuela and crime in countries all over the world is way down?” TRUMP FLIPS ‘I’M TALKING’ SCRIPT FROM 2020 DEBATE AGAINST KAMALA HARRIS DURING PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE SHOWDOWN Harris responded by bringing up Trump’s criminal convictions and pending indictments. “Well, I think this is so rich coming from someone who has been prosecuted for national security crimes, economic crimes, election interference has been found liable for sexual assault,” Harris said. TRUMP, HARRIS TRADE BARBS ON CRIME DURING FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: ‘THROUGH THE ROOF’ “And his next big court appearance is in November at his own criminal sentencing. And let’s be clear where each person stands on the issue of what is important about respect for the rule of law and respect for law enforcement.” Following the debate, the Harris campaign called for a second debate in October. Trump had repeatedly called for additional debates against Harris, after only having one other presidential debate in June against President Biden. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “That was fun. let’s do it again,” Harris adviser Brian Fallon said on X moments after the debate wrapped. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Social media erupts over ‘repulsive’ Trump-Harris presidential debate: ‘Phony and rehearsed’
Reactions from conservatives and liberals came pouring in on social media following the conclusion of the first presidential debate between VP Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. “Tonight’s debate was a clear contrast between Donald Trump, who advanced policies that will address America’s biggest concerns, and Kamala Harris, who had nothing but cliched talking points,” Alfredo Ortiz, Job Creators Network President, said in a statement. “Kamala ducked and dodged from her failed liberal record, flip-flopping on countless important issues. Kamala can run from her record but can’t hide from its results. She showed herself as a policy phony who will do whatever it takes to get elected and gain power. She was clearly out of her league. By contrast, Trump showed himself to be a true leader, clearly explaining the policies needed to reinvigorate Main Street and the economy. In short, he was presidential, she was not.” TRUMP-HARRIS RACE NECK AND NECK NATIONALLY IN NEW SURVEY, POLLSTER SEES ‘WARNING SIGN’ FOR DEMS Many on social media criticized the performance of the ABC moderators. “My debate score: trump – 3 moderators – 9 harris – N/A,” Fox News host Greg Gutfeld posted on X. “ABC should be ASHAMED of themselves,” former Trump press secretary and Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany posted on X. “1. Where was the question for Kamala about casting the tie breaking vote for inflation (American Rescue Plan etc.)? 2. Where was the question for Kamala about wanting taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries for illegal immigrants? 3. Where was the question about Tim Walz allowing babies born alive after abortion to die in Minnesota and then removing reporting requirements NONE – they only prepped TRUMP FACT CHECKS!” “They are not moderators they are agitators,” political commentator Mehek Cooke posted on X. “My debate analysis won’t make anyone happy,” conservative commentator Matt Walsh posted on X. “I think Kamala was weak and nervous, especially early. She came off as phony and rehearsed the rest of the way. But Trump missed a lot of opportunities to land a blow, rambled too much, and took the bait repeatedly throughout. I don’t think this debate moves the needle much for either candidate.” “Tonight’s debate wasn’t Harris versus Trump, it was Old Kamala versus New Kamala. Despite an attempt to rewrite history on her support for the most fringe radical policies on everything from the border and immigration, fracking and energy, Bidenomics, and our fundamental government principles, it’s clear she still refuses to be honest with the country about where she stands,” Sentinel Action Fund President Jessica Anderson said in a statement. VOTERS REPORT KAMALA HARRIS IS MORE RADICAL THAN TRUMP: ‘TOO LIBERAL OR PROGRESSIVE’ “Trump did not win the debate but I think he won the election with an assist to ABC because it was so in the tank for Harris that it was repulsive,” conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt posted on X. “Voters did see Harris dodge every question that was even slightly difficult and tried to erase her record and Biden’s. Voters expected accountability on the economy, inflation and border but got an ABC buffet of lefty agenda journalism that will not cover for the failures of the past three and a half years. Democrats think they won the debate and the election. It is 2016 all over again.” Others on social media expressed the belief that Harris won the debate. “Biden gave one of the worst debate performances in history,” journalist John Ralston posted on X. “Trump: Hold my beer.” “Trump’s self-image…his political calling card is strength,” former Obama senior adviser David Axelrod posted on X. “He was on defense that entire first hour. KamalaHarris pushed all his hot buttons, and he unraveled.” “Look,” journalist Chris Cillizza posted on X. “Kamala Harris won the debate. Pretty easily.” In a statement, the Harris campaign wrote that Trump was “incoherent” and “angry” in the debate. “Tonight, Vice President Harris commanded the stage on every single issue that matters to the American people,” the campaign said. “Americans saw exactly what kind of President Kamala Harris will be: one who offers a New Way Forward for the country, who will be a president for all Americans, and who will turn the page once and for all on the darkness and division of Donald Trump. And she reminded the American people that she is the only candidate in this race ready to serve as our next Commander-in-Chief.” The Trump campaign declared victory in their debate statement. “President Trump delivered a masterful debate performance tonight, prosecuting Kamala Harris’ abysmal record of failure that has hurt Americans for the last 4 years,” the campaign said. “We saw President Trump lay out his bold vision of America and how he would continue to build upon the successes of his first term by supercharging the economy, securing the border, and stopping crime from ravaging communities across the country. Conversely, Kamala’s vision of America was a dark reminder of the oppressive, big government policies of Joe Biden that she wants to continue. High inflation, a porous border that allows criminals and terrorists to flood across, and being soft on crime— that is what Kamala represents.”
Fox News voter panel says Harris won debate
Voters taking part in a Fox News Digital panel reacting to the debate said that Vice President Kamala Harris came away from the event with a victory. Asked who they thought won the debate, 12 voters on the panel raised their hand for Harris while just five indicated they believed former President Donald Trump won. Asked why they thought Harris won, many voters expressed that Trump did not know how to attack his new opponent in the race. TRUMP FACT CHECKS HARRIS ON CHARLOTTESVILLE RIOT ACCUSATION: ‘DEBUNKED’ “He is still in his head basically trying to run against Joe Biden,” one voter said. Another voter knocked Trump for not bringing fresh ideas to the stage. “Trump was so bad, he’s just like an old suit from like 1987 right now. He just repeats himself, says the same stuff, and she’s refreshing in that she’s different,” the voter said. “I think if he had a different line of attack with her, it would have been more effective.” TRUMP SAYS HE ‘PROBABLY TOOK A BULLET TO THE HEAD’ DUE TO DEM RHETORIC “I think she won the debate from my perspective, because he was so bad and he just sounds so repetitive, but I think she’s weak. She’s weak on the substance and she’s weak on the facts,” the voter added. But the panel didn’t provide only good news for Harris, with few of those participating saying that the vice president met their expectations. “She wasn’t very specific when asked certain things,” one voter said. “She knows how to pull at your heartstrings. She knows how to be dramatic in a way that will touch the heart of Americans while avoiding the hot button questions.” The debate may be the only one between the two candidates before election day in November, coming after President Biden’s disastrous debate performance earlier this year that helped launch a movement to force him out of the election and just 56 days until most voters cast their ballots.