Investing.com-- Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump faced off in a heated presidential debate on Tuesday evening, where they covered a slew of key topics while also constantly engaging in personal attacks on each other.
Harris alleged that Trump's administration had battered the economy, and reiterated her plans for a massive tax cut for the middle class. She also alleged that Trump's plans for increased trade tariffs, especially on China, would cause higher inflation.
Trump, on the other hand, defended his administration's handling of the economy, while also calling for higher trade tariffs, which he said would benefit the economy and the country's standing in the international community.
The debate, which is hosted by ABC News, is the first time Harris and Trump met on a public stage. Recent polls showed Trump and Harris locked in a tight race with less than two months left to the ballot.
Both candidates stuck loosely to questions from the moderators, while constantly engaging in personal attacks against each other and their policies.
Analysts watching the debate said Harris had constantly touched on topics to rile up the former president, some of which had drawn a sharp rebuke from Trump. But she also did not address questions on the current state of the economy after four years under the Biden administration.
Speaking on abortion and reproductive rights, which has become a key point of focus for the election, Harris said she would reinstate protections for women under the Roe V. Wade ruling. Recent polls show voters favor Harris over Trump on the issue of reproductive rights.
Trump, on the other hand, defended the Supreme Court's overturning of the ruling, but said that he would not sign a national ban on abortion.
Trump said "millions" of illegal immigrants had entered the U.S. under Harris' watch, and were now committing violent crimes in the country. He also pushed widely-dismissed claims that immigrants were eating people's pets in Ohio.
Trump said he did not think he had lost the 2020 election, while Harris accused the former president of attempting to undermine U.S. democracy.
Speaking on foreign policy, Harris said Israel had a right to defend itself, but noted that far too many Palestinian civilians had been killed in the process. She called for a two-state solution and that the war needed to end.
Trump argued that the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars would have "never happened" under his administration.
Harris calls for 'new way forward', Trump questions her policies
In her closing statements, Harris said she intended to chart a new course for the U.S., by supporting small business, improving the country's military force, while also protecting people's fundamental rights, especially those of women.
She said she "intended to be a president for all Americans."
Trump, during his closing statements, criticized Harris' plans for the country, particularly questioning why she had not already enacted her policies. He closed out his statements by calling Harris and President Joe Biden's administration the worst in U.S. history.
It remains unclear whether there will be a second debate between Trump and Harris. Vice Presidential candidates Tim Walz and J.D. Vance are set to debate in early-October.