The latest ABC News presidential debate saw Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump engage in a heated exchange over critical issues such as inflation, immigration, abortion, and foreign policy. With only eight weeks until Election Day, both candidates fiercely attempted to make their case to voters. Harris, appearing to have a strategy to unsettle Trump, accused him of being a global embarrassment, stating that foreign leaders mock him and accusing him of belittling people, including attacking her racial identity.

Trump repeatedly blamed Harris for what he termed as the failures of the Biden administration, highlighting the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan as a significant blunder. He exaggerated claims, saying the U.S. left $85 billion worth of military equipment in Afghanistan, though fact-checkers confirmed the actual figure to be about $7 billion. Trump also directed his criticism towards Harris’s role in immigration policy, falsely claiming that foreign governments are sending criminals to the U.S., a statement debunked by experts who clarified that there is no evidence of such actions.

Throughout the debate, Harris sought to highlight Trump’s past leadership failings, including his handling of the economy and employment during the pandemic. She emphasized that while unemployment did peak at 14.8% in April 2020, the figure had significantly decreased by the time Trump left office, contradicting Trump’s claim that he left the nation with the worst unemployment since the Great Depression. Harris also attacked Trump’s stance on women’s reproductive rights, framing him as out of touch with the needs of American women and committed to overturning long-standing rights.

The debate’s fiery exchanges underscored the deeply polarized political landscape as both candidates worked to sway undecided voters. Harris’s strategy included calling out Trump’s falsehoods, including his repeated but discredited claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Despite these claims being dismissed by courts due to lack of evidence, Trump continued to insist on the narrative, framing it as a key issue in his campaign.

The debate took an unexpected turn when, shortly after the event, pop icon Taylor Swift publicly endorsed Harris, lauding her as a warrior for rights and causes she supports. Swift’s endorsement, especially given her massive following among younger voters, could inject fresh momentum into Harris’s campaign, providing a cultural boost as she aims to galvanize support in the final weeks leading up to the election. As the campaign trail heats up, both Trump and Harris are expected to intensify their efforts to secure the votes necessary to win in November.

The debate not only highlighted the stark differences between the two candidates but also set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested election season. Voters are now left to navigate through a mix of claims, endorsements, and policy proposals as they decide who will lead the country forward.