In a fiery exchange during the 2024 U.S. presidential debate, former President Donald Trump took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing her of paying people to attend her rallies.
The accusation came as the two sparred over immigration and border security — one of the most pressing issues for American voters.
When questioned by ABC’s David Muir on the Biden administration’s response to illegal border crossings, Vice President Harris pointed out her role in addressing migration from Central America.
Harris highlighted her previous work prosecuting transnational criminal organisations involved in human, gun, and drug trafficking.
She also took a swipe at Trump, accusing him of derailing bipartisan efforts on border security.
According to Harris, a Senate bill that would have added 1,500 border agents and enhanced resources to combat the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. was killed after Trump intervened.
“He preferred to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem,” Harris remarked, adding that Trump’s rallies were filled with misleading narratives.
Trump swiftly countered, dismissing Harris’s claims about his rallies. “People don’t go to her rallies… She’s busing them in and paying them to be there,” he alleged.
Trump, known for his boisterous campaign events, defended his support base, asserting that his rallies attract massive crowds of Americans eager to “take their country back” from what he characterised as a failing nation under Biden’s leadership.
While Harris underscored her commitment to finding real solutions to immigration challenges, Trump shifted the conversation to broader concerns, including his fear that America was on the brink of World War III.
He also doubled down on controversial remarks about crime in U.S. towns, claiming, “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. They’re eating the cats.”