Valley residents sound off on Harris-Trump debate

Local residents react to an often spirited exchange of ideas and allegations.

A brief handshake during Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s first meeting on the biggest stage in U.S. politics led to nearly two hours of sparring between the two presidential candidates in what could be their only debate heading into the November election.

As the debate opened, Harris walked up to Trump’s lectern to introduce herself, marking the first time the two had ever met. “Kamala Harris,” she said, extending her hand to Trump, who received it in a handshake — the first presidential debate handshake since the 2016 campaign.

Harris and Trump shared starkly different opinions on big issues as they each hope to sway voters heading into Election Day including the economy, abortion, immigration and American democracy.

Both candidates, seemingly no matter the topic, accused the other of making false statements, and often times strayed off-topic from the questions at hand.

The candidates met in a small, blue-lit amphitheater converted into a television studio, with no live audience, meaning there was no rowdy applause, cheers or jeers. The intimate setting — with the candidates’ lecterns positioned less than 10 feet from each other — belied the contentious debate to follow.

The high-pressure matchup after a tumultuous campaign summer offered Americans their most detailed look at a campaign that’s been dramatically changed.

Local voters don’t seem to be impressed with either candidate.

Ronald Dulak of Jefferson Hills said he was curious leading up to the debate how Harris would answer questions specifically pertaining to her time as vice president.

“I was very curious how VP Harris would answer questions about the last three years versus how things were four years ago,” he said.

He thought Harris and Trump could have remained more focused.

“Both candidates could have stayed more on point,” Dulak said. “But the fact is the economy, border and protection of our citizens and military have become weaker. I did not get any answers from the VP on mistakes that have put us in this position.”

He said the right person for the job has to focus on certain things that are important for all Americans.

“Who can effectively restore our economy, safeguard our citizens and military globally and address the pressing issues of border security and Middle East instability that have left our nation appearing weak?” he said.

Andrew Takach of West Newton wasn’t impressed either.

“Neither are really answering questions,” he posted on Facebook. “But she is just playing disgusting and so fake. …. Trump might not be the answer but that hood rat Kamala is definitely on the side of the problem.”

Ron Pudlowski of Charleroi didn’t get a chance to watch, and turned to friends online for their thoughts.

“… I look at reality of life/living/ surviving, not the words of two people arguing or placing blame. I see/ seen facts with my own two eyes the past eight years, a politicians mouth, speech, lies, alleged plans mean nothing to me. Hence why I didn’t watch it,” he wrote. “God Bless America. We are gonna need it no matter who ‘wins.’” Aric Armbruster of Charleroi doesn’t expect Tuesday night’s debate to carry much weight.

“I think most everyone that will vote has their mind made up,” he posted on Facebook. “Either Trump or not Trump, in all honesty, I didn’t watch it. Don’t need to cause my mind is made up like everyone else that plans to actually vote.

“If anyone thinks the dems will do any of the promises they pledge they would have been doing them the last almost four years. My well being was better when Trump was in. There are deeper darker forces at work and I don’t even know if anything we do matters but I will always stand up for what I think is right and best for my kids. That’s all I have to say.”

Matt Mascara from Belle Vernon didn’t believe Trump was at the top of his game.

“I don’t think Donald Trump is having the best performance tonight but the moderators should not be stepping in,” he said. “It gives the optic of a three versus one. Kamala Harris is repeating her prepared lines well, but she couldn’t answer one of the most important questions, are Americans better off than we were four years ago? We didn’t get an answer, because the answer is no.”

Dominic Zboyovosky of Monessen said Trump did not seem prepared.

“Trump looked very unprepared and sounded incoherent at times,” he said. “He should’ve been on cruise control from the beginning and let Harris defend her and Biden’s record. That’s not him, I get it. This isn’t going to decide who people are going to vote for but I think his ego definitely got the best of him (tonight.)” Brett Berish of North Belle Vernon said he feels both responses about the border and foreign policy were “weak.”

“They’re only worried about abortion,” he said. “Hopefully enough vote to build the wall and worry about Americans before anyone else. Either way I think we’re doomed.”

Michelle Parnell-DeSantis of Monongahela said it will be interesting leading up to the election.

“I always thought Trump debated well, he dominated debates and left opponents dazed,” she said. “Not so much tonight. She is absolutely unbothered. It’s going to be an interesting 57 days.”

Debate details

The vice president moved to far more effectively press the Democratic case against Trump than Biden did when he met Trump in June, linking the former president to GOP efforts to restrict abortion access and accusing him of undermining the nation’s democracy.

Saying it’s “time to turn the page,” Harris delivered an appeal to Republicans and independents turned off by Trump’s style and his efforts four years ago to overturn the 2020 presidential election, saying there’s a place in her campaign for them “to stand for country, to stand for our democracy, to stand for rule of law and to end the chaos.”

Trump repeatedly declined to say that it was in the best interest of the U.S. for Ukraine to win its war against Russia. Harris said it was an example of why America’s NATO allies were thankful he was no longer in office, as she and Biden have sent tens of billions of dollars to help Kyiv fend off Russia’s invasion.

As the former president made a series of false claims about migrants, Harris seemed to smirk as he said that migrants are “taking jobs that are occupied right now by African Americans and Hispanics.”

“Talk about extreme,” Harris responded, when Trump repeated unsubstantiated claims that immigrants in Ohio are eating their neighbors’ dogs and cats.

Harris repeatedly shook her head derisively as Trump spoke, occasionally staring at him with a hand on her chin, while Trump seemed to avoid looking toward the Democrat. Trump hewed closely to his rally talking points and familiar attacks.

Harris sharply criticized Trump for the state of the economy and democracy when he left office, as the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the nation and after his supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a bid to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

“What we have done is clean up Donald Trump’s mess,” Harris said. She opened her answer by saying she expects voters to hear “a bunch of lies, grievances and name calling” from her GOP opponent during their 90-minute debate.

Trump, meanwhile, quickly went after Harris for abandoning some of her past liberal positions and said: “She’s going to my philosophy now. In fact, I was going to send her a MAGA hat.” Harris smiled broadly and laughed.

Harris moved repeatedly to get under the skin of the former Republican president, provoking him with reminders about the 2020 election loss that he still denies and derisive asides at his other false claims.

Harris not only tried to make the case that Trump is unfit for office but tried to use her answers in a way that seemed designed to provoke him into launching into one of the personal attacks that his advisers and supporters have tried to steer him away from.

In one moment, Harris turned to Trump and said that as vice president, she had spoken to foreign leaders, “And they say you’re a disgrace.”

Trump again denied his loss to President Joe Biden four years ago, when his efforts to overturn the result inspired the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.

“Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people,” Harris said, “So let’s be clear about that. And clearly he is having a very difficult time processing that.”

Trump in turn tried to link Harris to Biden, questioning why she hadn’t acted on her proposed ideas while serving as vice president, and focused his attacks on Harris over her assignment by Biden to deal with the root causes of illegal migration.

He repeatedly dismissed her and Biden as weak, and cited the praise of Hungary’s nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán to show that he is a widely respected by leaders around the world, saying Orbán calls him the “most feared person.”

She sought to defend her shifts away from liberal causes to more moderate stances on fracking, expanding Medicare for all and mandatory gun buyback programs — and even backing away from her position that plastic straws should be banned — as pragmatism, insisting that her “values remain the same.”

Harris gave one of her most impassioned answers as she described the ways women have been denied abortion care and other emergency care and said Trump would assign a national abortion ban if he wins.

Trump declared it “a lie,” and said, “I’m not signing a ban and there’s no reason to sign a ban.”

The Republican has said he wants the issue left to the states.

Harris used a question about her plans to improve the economy by saying she would extend the tax cut for families with children and a tax deduction for small businesses while attacking Trump’s plans to impose broad tariffs as a “sales tax” on goods that the American people will ultimately pay.

Trump was stone-faced during her answer but retorted: “I have no sales tax. That’s in incorrect statement. She knows that.”