During a contentious televised debate on Wednesday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump repeatedly labeled Vice President Kamala Harris as a “Marxist.” Trump asserted, “She’s a Marxist. Everybody knows she’s a Marxist. Her father is a Marxist professor in economics, and he taught her well.” Throughout the 90-minute debate, he continually referred to her as “Comrade Kamala,” branding her a socialist, Marxist, and fascist.
Polls suggest that more voters perceive Harris as too liberal rather than viewing Trump as too conservative. Hosted by ABC News at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the debate was conducted without a live audience and featured muted microphones for both candidates during their opponents’ speaking turns as per campaign agreements.
In preparation, Vice President Harris spent several days in Pittsburgh performing mock debate sessions in a setting designed to replicate the debate stage. Trump, conversely, prepared through informal talks with advisers, campaign events, and media interviews. Former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who had a heated exchange with Harris during a 2019 debate, also offered Trump advice, which he used to treat Harris as any other political adversary.
Harris criticized Trump’s proposal for high tariffs on foreign goods, comparing it to a middle-class sales tax, while promoting her own tax benefits plan for families and small businesses. She highlighted the economic downturn during Trump’s presidency, noting, “Donald Trump left us the worst unemployment since the Great Depression.” She cited a peak unemployment rate of 14.8% in April 2020 and 6.4% when Trump left office.
Trump, 78, blamed Harris for the current inflation under the Biden administration but exaggerated the inflation figures. He quickly shifted the debate focus to immigration, making unfounded claims of immigrants from mental asylums crossing the southern border.
(With inputs from agencies)
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