US presidential candidates Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on Tuesday delivered strong and contrasting remarks in their closing statements during the presidential debate in Philadelphia, hosted by ABC News.
Kamala Harris, who aims to become the first woman president in US history in the polls slated later this year, expressed her intent to be the leader of “all Americans,” while her Republican rival termed the tenure of hers and of President Joe Biden as the “worst in the history.”
Harris said that the two candidates presented vastly different visions for the future of the country, asserting that America is “not going back.”
Criticizing Trump for being fixated on the past, Harris asserted that America is “not going back.”
She further emphasized the need to address the cost of living, strengthen the military, and understand the dreams and aspirations of the American people.
After addressing abortion rights earlier in the debate, Harris reaffirmed her position, directly challenging Trump by saying that women, not the government, should have the right to make decisions about their own bodies.
“I want to create an opportunity economy, invest in small businesses, new families, and protect seniors. We need to lower the cost of living, maintain America’s standing in the world, and ensure our military remains the most lethal force,” Harris stated. “As president, I will protect fundamental rights, including a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body. I intend to be a president for all Americans, focusing on what we can achieve over the next 10 to 20 years by investing in you, the American people.”
Trump, seeking a return to the White House after his 2020 loss, alleged that Harris and the current administration had failed to deliver on the promises she highlighted during the debate.
“She talks about doing all these wonderful things, but why hasn’t she done them? She’s been in office for 3.5 years. They had 3.5 years to fix the border, to create jobs,” Trump said.
Describing the United States as a “failing nation,” Trump blamed the Biden-Harris administration for the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, as well as the turmoil in Afghanistan.
“We are a failing nation, a nation in serious decline. We’re being laughed at around the world. We’ve got wars in the Middle East, in Russia-Ukraine, and we’re on the path to World War III,” Trump warned. “I rebuilt our entire military, and she gave a lot of it away to the Taliban in Afghanistan. They’re allowing millions into the country, and many of them are criminals. This is the worst president and vice president in our country’s history.”
Both Trump and Harris are the official presidential candidates for their respective parties, having accepted their nominations at party conventions earlier this year.
Notably, the first presidential debate, held in June, featured President Biden and Trump. However, concerns about Biden’s age led him to withdraw from the race, endorsing Harris as the Democratic nominee.
The US presidential elections are set for November 5, 2024.