Democratic candidate Kamala Harris accused her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, of aligning herself with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the first US presidential debate. The moderator also asked about the current Russia-Ukraine war. Trump dodged a direct response as to if he wanted Ukraine to win the war. Instead, he said, "I think it's in the US's best interest to get this war finished."
Harris responded with a jab at Trump's "friendship" with Putin and suggested Trump would buckle under the pressure from his Russian counterpart.
"Putin would be sitting in Kyiv with his eyes on the rest of Europe, starting with Poland," Harris said. "How fast would you fold for the sake of favor and what you believe is a friendship toward what is known to be a dictator who would eat you for lunch."
On the Israel-Hamas conflict, Harris said she believed in a two-state solution. Trump insisted the current situation in Gaza would never have escalated under his presidency, further accusing Harris of not being a fan of either Israel or the Arab population in the region.
Harris wasted no time in denying Trump's accusation and reasserting her support for Israel.
She also attacked Trump's standing on the global platform, citing how world leaders view him.
"As Vice-President of the United States, I have travelled the world. Leaders of the world are laughing at Donald Trump. They say you are a disgrace," she jokingly told him.
Throughout the debate, Harris handled Trump's criticisms in grace, particularly when the latter tried to bring out the failures in the Biden administration.
To which she shot back, "You are not running against Biden."
It was the first debate appearance by the two candidates, hosted by ABC News. Harris and Trump initially shook hands at the beginning of the debate-a marked break from an eight-year spate of no handshakes on the presidential debate stage.
Harris also took the time to formally introduce herself to Trump during their first confrontation, showing some politeness amid some heated argumentations.
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