The most notable — and quotable — exchanges from the Harris-Trump debate

The first meeting between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Donald Trump featured some sharp comments and memorable moments

ByMATT BROWN Associated Press
September 11, 2024, 1:14 AM

WASHINGTON -- The first meeting between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump featured some sharp comments and memorable moments.

Here are some of the most notable — and quotable — exchanges from Tuesday night's debate:

— Harris, after Trump repeatedly criticized President Biden and his administration.

— Trump, referring to Harris missing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress. Harris was in Indianapolis speaking to the national gathering of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, a historically Black sorority of which she is not a member.

— Harris, who said she was taking the “unusual step” of inviting people to attend a Trump rally.

— Trump, repeating a false claim his campaign has promoted that Haitian immigrants are eating pets. Trump stood by the false claims despite ABC News’ David Muir noting that city officials found no evidence of the claim.

— Harris, responding to Trump's false claim about dogs.

— Trump, who has questioned Harris' racial identity. He then repeatedly said that he “does not care” how she identifies. Harris, who is Black and Indian American, called it a “tragedy” that Trump “has consistently, over the course of his career, attempted to use race to divide the American people.”

— Harris, who critiqued Trump for his foreign policy stances and, as she argued, his appeal to authoritarians around the world. Harris added, “And that is why so many military leaders who you have worked with have told me, you are a disgrace.”

— Trump, who claimed that Harris “hates Israel.” He added: “I've been pretty good at predictions. I hope I'm wrong about that one."

— Harris, speaking about the Israel-Gaza war. She reiterated she supports Israel and believes the nation has a right to defend itself.

— Trump, to Harris, as she began a rebuttal to some of his remarks. It was a reference to Harris' comment to Mike Pence, then a candidate for vice president, during a 2020 presidential debate. The moment — when Harris blunted Pence's interruptions with “I'm speaking” — became a catchphrase among her supporters.

— Harris, who pledged to support reproductive rights and contrasted her position with Trump.

— Trump, standing by his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him when asked directly whether some of his recent remarks indicated that he now acknowledged his 2020 election loss to Biden.