Top 5 viral moments from the Donald Trump and Kamala Harris Presidential debate 2024

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris engaged in a fierce exchange during their first debate on Tuesday night, ahead of the November presidential election.

Here are five viral moments:

1. "Nice to see you"

As they entered, Harris walked toward Trump as he neared his podium. "Kamala Harris," she said, offering a handshake as they met for the first time. “Let’s have a good debate.”

“Nice to see you. Have fun,” Trump replied.

It was the first handshake at a presidential debate in eight years.

2. “I'm talking now” 

When Harris interrupted Trump at one point, he responded, "I'm talking now. Does that sound familiar?" referencing a similar remark she made during a 2020 debate with Mike Pence.

Later, as Harris spoke over him, Trump said, “Quiet please.”

3. “They're eating the dogs”

Before the debate, social media was buzzing with unverified claims—repeated by Trump's running mate JD Vance—that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were stealing and eating pets.

Despite local officials denying any credible reports of these claims, Trump brought it up during the debate.

"They're eating the dogs, they're eating the cats, they're eating the pets of the people that live there. This is a shame," Trump said.

Harris responded, "Talk about extreme," referencing his claims.

4. Moderator's abortion fact-check 

Harris launched strong attacks on Trump over abortion, a critical issue for Democrats since the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to the procedure in 2022.

She accused Trump of planning to "sign an abortion ban" if re-elected and mentioned conservative states that have restricted the procedure with limited exceptions.

Trump, for whom this issue is politically difficult, responded, "What she says is an absolute lie. I am not in favour of an abortion ban."

5. Policies? 

Trump accused Harris of having no policies, claiming she had copied some of his ideas and saying he was "going to send her a Maga hat," while also arguing she would be no different from Biden.

“She has no policy,” he stated.

At another point, he added, “Remember this, she is Biden.”

Harris replied, “Clearly, I am not Joe Biden.”

When asked about his plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, Trump said he had "concepts of a plan" that would be "something that's better" if elected.

On the economy, which polls show favor Trump, Harris repeatedly stated: "I have a plan."

Trump portrayed her as a radical liberal, claiming, "She has a plan to defund the police. She has a plan to confiscate everyone's guns. She has a plan to ban fracking in Pennsylvania and everywhere else."

Harris denied all these claims, mentioning that she owns a gun.