#ukrainepolicy

Dan Caldwell — a top adviser to Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth — was escorted out of the Pentagon amid an investigation into unauthorized disclosures.

🪖 Caldwell played a major role in Ukraine and Yemen policy decisions.

In a highly anticipated showdown, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced off for the first time on the presidential debate stage in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Though they exchanged pleasantries with a handshake, the atmosphere quickly turned contentious, marking a fiery 90 minutes that left both candidates bruised.

Throughout the debate, Harris consistently rattled the former president with sharp, personal attacks, throwing him off message and raising the stakes in the tightly contested race. Her jabs at Trump's rally crowds, his role in the January 6 Capitol riots, and the vocal criticism of his administration by former officials created moments where the ex-president appeared visibly unsettled.

For much of the night, Harris prodded Trump into extended defenses of his past behavior and statements. Trump took the bait, raising his voice and shaking his head in frustration. Early on, during a discussion on immigration, Harris delivered a scathing critique of his campaign rallies. “People start leaving the rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom,” she quipped, sparking a lengthy and defensive response from Trump, who diverted the focus from immigration to boast about his rally sizes and denigrate Harris’s turnout.

The tension escalated further when Trump launched into an unsubstantiated narrative about Haitian immigrants in Ohio, claiming they were abducting and eating pets—a debunked story that veered wildly off course from the debate’s main topics.

Harris Gains Momentum, Trump Struggles to Land Punches

If debates are judged by which candidate capitalizes on their strengths while deflecting on their weaknesses, Harris appeared to have the upper hand. A snap CNN poll of viewers indicated that Harris outperformed Trump, with betting markets reflecting the same sentiment.

Harris’s strategy of keeping Trump on the defensive was evident from the outset, particularly when the conversation shifted to the economy and abortion—two critical issues. Public opinion has shown dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s handling of inflation, a potential weak point for Harris, who currently serves as vice president. But rather than being on the defensive, Harris redirected the conversation to Trump’s proposal for across-the-board tariffs, which she labeled a “Trump sales tax.” She also brought up the controversial Project 2025, a conservative plan for a future Republican administration. Trump distanced himself from the project and focused on defending his tariff plan, but in doing so, he missed an opportunity to challenge Harris directly on inflation.

When the debate turned to abortion, Trump defended his role in the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, claiming it reflected the will of the American people—an assertion not supported by polling. His response was meandering and unclear, failing to effectively communicate his stance. In contrast, Harris delivered a powerful, personal message, addressing families facing severe pregnancy complications in states where abortion has been banned, dubbing them “Trump abortion bans.” Her message resonated with many, particularly among women, where she holds a significant advantage over Trump in polling.

A Debate Tilted in Harris’s Favor

While debates can be fluid and fleeting snapshots of a campaign’s momentum, Harris’s strategy of placing Trump on the defensive early and keeping him there seemed to pay off. Her measured, pointed critiques of his record, combined with his tendency to become sidetracked in his defenses, may have given her the edge in this first meeting.