In a recent presidential debate, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump engaged in a heated exchange over foreign policy issues. The debate, which took place on September 10, 2024, highlighted stark differences in their approaches to international relations and national security.
Harris accused Trump of taking a lenient stance towards autocratic leaders, particularly Xi Jinping of China. She criticized Trump's past praise for Xi's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, referencing a January 2020 social media post where Trump commended China's efforts and transparency.
The discussion on China also touched upon trade policies. Trump advocated for increased tariffs on foreign nations, claiming they had been exploiting the United States economically. Harris countered by pointing out the record-high trade deficit with China during Trump's presidency, which reached $418 billion in 2018.
Regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which began over two and a half years ago, Harris asserted that Vladimir Putin would have advanced further if Trump had been president. She emphasized the current administration's substantial military support for Ukraine. Trump, however, claimed he could swiftly end the war, though he provided no specific details on how he would achieve this.
"I will get it settled before I even become president."
The debate also addressed the situation in Gaza. Harris reiterated the Biden administration's stance, supporting Israel's right to self-defense while expressing concern for Palestinian civilians. She reaffirmed her commitment to a two-state solution, a concept first proposed in the 1937 Peel Commission report.
On the topic of Afghanistan, Harris defended the controversial 2021 withdrawal, citing the high daily cost of $300 million for the nearly two-decade-long war. Trump criticized the withdrawal process but claimed his administration would have exited more rapidly.
Throughout the debate, Harris portrayed Trump as easily manipulated by autocratic leaders, including Viktor Orban of Hungary, Vladimir Putin of Russia, and Kim Jong Un of North Korea. She suggested that these leaders would prefer Trump's return to office due to his perceived malleability.
This presidential debate underscored the significant divergence in foreign policy approaches between the two candidates, reflecting broader differences in their visions for America's role on the global stage.