Kathmandu, Sept 11: Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris and Republican Party candidate Donald Trump faced off in the first televised presidential debate for the upcoming US election. Kicking off the debate, Kamala Harris criticized Trump’s economic policies.

During the exchange, Trump asked Harris, “Do you think America is better off than it was four years ago?” Harris responded by outlining her vision of creating an “opportunity economy.” She accused Trump of favoring tax cuts for billionaires and big businesses, as seen during his previous term, and noted that 16 Nobel Prize-winning economists had criticized Trump’s plan, predicting it could lead to a recession next year.

Harris further claimed, “Donald Trump left us with the worst unemployment rate since the Great Depression,” adding that she and her team had worked to resolve the damage from his previous administration. She also warned that Trump’s ‘Project 2025’ posed a significant threat, stating that he would implement it if elected.

The 90-minute debate, hosted by ABC News, began at 6:45 a.m. Nepali time. Both candidates followed strict debate rules, including taking two breaks without communication with staff or the use of notes. A pre-debate coin toss determined seating arrangements and speaking order, with Trump closing the debate.