Trump vs Harris: Czech political analysts weigh in on US presidential debate

Czech political analysts and politicians have responded to the first – and perhaps only – televised presidential debate between U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Broad consensus from Czech political scientists agrees that Harris came out stronger in a substantive debate.

During the 90-minute discussion, Harris emphasized her "opportunity economy" plan, which includes measures such as tax reductions for small business owners, support for new parents and first-time homebuyers, and a crackdown on corporate price-gouging. She asserted that she is the only candidate on the stage focused on uplifting the middle class, citing her own upbringing in a middle-class household.

In contrast, Trump proclaimed his superior management of the economy, claiming it to be the best despite the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. He also accused his opponent of increasing expenses for American families, stating that people are struggling to afford basic items such as cereal and bacon. Trump also further highlighted his support for tariffs and plans to prioritize them if he is re-elected.

"It was essential for the Democratic candidate – as the new face of the race for the White House – to present her own agenda and stand up, which she did," U.S. correspondent for Czech media outlet CNN Prima Kateřina Březinová said this morning.

When challenged on his changing take on access to abortion care, Trump made (incorrect) claims that Democrats supported executing babies after they are born. He also took credit for overturning the Roe v Wade legal case, a decision made by the Supreme Court after he appointed three members to make a conservative majority. Trump did clarify his recently muddling position on abortion though, regarding exceptions for rape, incest, and threats to the mother’s life.

Harris called his stances “insulting to the women of America," and countered his statements that he delivered on a promise to bring the issue back to states by saying: “The people of America have voted for freedom." She highlighted the difficult realities faced by women in states with abortion bans and would-be mothers who would struggle to access in vitro fertilization care.

Harris also said Trump would enact a federal ban on abortion as president, which her opponent called a lie, even though he supported such a move during his first term. The Democratic candidate presented herself as a fighter for women's abortion rights, Czech commentators say, while Trump did not clearly define his support for this option.

“While Donald Trump tried to frighten the Democrats by enshrining abortion even in the eighth month of pregnancy, Kamala Harris approached it from another side. She tried to describe the difficult position of some women," CNN Prima reporter Jakub Říha recalled.

In the debate, as several times before, Trump also avoided a direct answer to the question of whether it is in the American interest for Ukraine to win the war with Russia. He claimed that he wanted peace and would discuss it with the leaders of both sides, but he did not say how the war would end. 

Harris consistently communicated her commitment to ongoing support for Ukraine. “Putin would 'eat you for lunch',” Harris told Trump.

Harris argued that what Trump really wanted was Ukraine's quick and unconditional capitulation.

"Harris made it clear in the debate that she supports the war in Ukraine. On the contrary, Trump has defined himself against the conflict. He wants to end it and start peace negotiations,” said leader of the Czech right-wing Fredom and Direct Democracy Party Tomio Okamura – recently under fire for fearmongering anti-immigrant posters in the center of Prague.

Unsurprisingly, Trump accused Harris of “flooding” the country with illegals and people who have “escaped from mental institutions.” He touted a line of strong border security. Harris also affirmed the importance of border security.

In a slightly more bizarre turn of events during the debate while highlighting his immigration proposals, Trump chose to spread debunked claims that Haitian migrants in an Ohio city have started capturing and eating their neighbors’ pets.

“They’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating cats...they’re eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame,” Trump claimed.

Czech political analyst Tomáš Klvaňa said that Trump’s derisory words were a “mistake.” "He usually makes such statements at his rallies. There he's considered a rock star…but at debates, he tends to avoid them. He didn't here,” Klvaňa said.