Kamala Harris and Donald Trump shook hands on Wednesday at New York’s 9/11 memorial to mark the anniversary of the attacks, just hours after clashing in a heated TV debate. Both are heading toward the November U.S. presidential election, where polls show a tight race.
The ABC News debate in Philadelphia featured tense exchanges, with Harris emphasizing policy issues, while Trump’s responses were marked by falsehoods and grievances. Analysts noted that Harris delivered a strong performance, while Trump failed to effectively link her to President Joe Biden. Despite this, both candidates claimed victory after their first face-to-face encounter.
On Wednesday morning, Trump, in an interview with Fox News, baselessly claimed the debate had been “rigged” against him, accusing moderators of favoring Harris. Republican strategist Liam Donovan noted that Harris scored significant points, and Trump’s efforts to attack her fell flat.
After replacing Biden as the Democratic nominee in July, Harris gained popularity and strong fundraising momentum but had seen her polling stall before the debate. She has since been appealing to centrist voters, even attracting support from prominent anti-Trump Republicans like Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz.
Trump, meanwhile, has focused on his base with warnings of crime and a “declining” America, doubling down on false claims of voter fraud from 2020. In a recent social media post, he threatened to prosecute Democratic donors and officials over what he views as unethical behavior.
During the 9/11 memorial, Harris and Trump exchanged greetings once more, with both wearing blue ribbons as they honored the nearly 3,000 victims of the attacks. Harris stated her solidarity with the victims’ families and praised the heroism displayed that day.
Harris is scheduled to campaign in North Carolina on Thursday, a key swing state where she has narrowed Trump’s lead. Meanwhile, Trump will be holding a rally in Tucson, Arizona, focusing on economic issues. Harris’s running mate Tim Walz will visit Michigan and Wisconsin later in the week, while Trump’s vice-presidential nominee J.D. Vance faces backlash over controversial remarks regarding Haitian immigrants.
