in a highly anticipated Showdown vice president kamla Harris and former president Donald Trump faced off in their first presidential debate ahead of the 2024 election the debate held on date at location was a fiery exchange of policy differences personal attacks and sharp contrasts envisioned for the future of America both candidates presented their cases to a polarized electorate with analysts and viewers divided over who emerged Victorious key moments and themes the debate began with discussions on the economy where Trump focused on his past record touting job growth and tax cuts during his administration he criticized the Biden Harris Administration for Rising inflation and economic instability accusing them of weakening the country's Financial standing Harris on the other hand emphasized her administration's efforts to rebuild the economy post pandemic focusing on job creation infrastructure investment and expanding access to Affordable Health Care she argued that Trump's policies only benefited the wealthy while neglecting the working class foreign policy Clash on foreign policy the two candidates clashed sharply Trump reiterated his America First Doctrine criticizing the Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the current tensions with China he called for a more isolationist approach accusing Harris of being part of of an Administration that led America into unnecessary Global entanglements Harris responded by highlighting her and President Biden's efforts to rebuild International alliances and restore America's standing on the global stage she painted Trump's foreign policy as erratic and dangerous citing his relationships with authoritarian leaders social issues the debate also touched on critical social issues including Health Care abortion rights and racial Justice ice Trump maintained his opposition to abortion appealing to conservative voters while Harris promised to defend Reproductive Rights warning that a trump return to power would roll back Decades of progress on women's rights on racial Justice Harris the first black and South Asian woman to serve as vice president criticized Trump for fueling Division and emboldening white supremacists during his previous tenure Trump dismissed these accusations stating that he was a president for all Americans focusing on improving employment rates for minorities during his divided reactions pundits were quick to weigh in following the debate with opinions sharply divided conservative commentators praised Trump's aggressive performance