Former President Trump went off-track about a half-hour into Tuesday's debate with Kamala Harris, reposting a viral rumor accusing Haitian immigrants in Ohio of eating household pets.
“They eat dogs,” he said. “The people who came here eat cats.”
ABC's David Muir corrected Trump's comments, saying the city manager of Springfield, Ohio, had said there were “no credible reports” of animals being harmed by migrants.
Harris laughed when asked to respond, saying, “Talk about extremism…”
The Trump campaign quickly circulated a federal article about a police report of Haitians hunting geese.
Moments earlier, Harris had warned that Trump was likely to make wild claims, urging viewers to look at his rallies where he talks about Hannibal Lecter, a fictional character.
“People start leaving his gatherings early because they get tired and bored,” she said. “You don’t hear him talk about your needs, dreams, wants, and desires.”
The first 30 minutes made a relatively convincing argument on issues like abortion, trade and immigration.
Harris criticized Trump on abortion, saying he was responsible for overturning Roe v. Wade and banning abortion in 20 states.
“Certainly the government, and Donald Trump, should not be telling women what to do with their bodies,” she said.
Trump said he was proud of his role in overturning Roy's decision.
“I did a great service by doing that. It took great courage to do that, and the Supreme Court had great courage to do that,” he said.
The abortion issue led to another moment of intervention from a broadcaster. Lindsey Davis corrected Trump, saying, “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it is born.”
Harris claimed that Trump would raise costs for American consumers by imposing tariffs of up to 20% on imports, while giving tax cuts to millionaires.
Meanwhile, Trump has sought to portray Harris as a hollow figure, saying she has copied President Biden's plans and even borrowed from his positions on trade.
“She’s going to follow my philosophy now,” Trump said. “In fact, I was going to send her a MAGA hat, but if she ever gets elected, she’s going to change that, and that’s going to be the end of our country. She’s a Marxist. Everybody knows she’s a Marxist. Her father is a Marxist economics professor, and he taught her very well.”
Trump and Harris met for the first, and possibly last, time during the campaign. There are no plans for further presidential debates, though J.D. Vance and Tim Walz are scheduled to hold a vice presidential debate on CBS on Oct. 1.
In August, Trump floated the possibility of a second debate against Harris on NBC in late September. Harris has not committed to holding an additional debate.
