The presidential debate at the National Constitution Centre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 10 September 2024 (Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images)

Harris vs Trump marks the lines of foreign policy debate

Look past the barbs and snappy sound bites and the real choice is clear.

Daniel Flitton

11 September 20242 min read

There was a remarkable amount of foreign policy discussion in today’s much-anticipated presidential candidate’s debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

Ukraine, Gaza, China, Afghanistan, climate change, the character of Hungarian leaders and Russian despots, tariffs and threats of “World War III”.

As a campaign moment, Trump’s angry rambles and Harris’ evident restraint during the performance likely confirmed more voters’ choices than changed them.

But the emphasis on the world outside surprised me, given that Harris’ line of attack is that “Trump has no plan for you”, speaking to the American public, whereas Trump wants to paint an American society in chaos.

Of course, the main messages firmly targeted voters at home. But for all the jokes so often made about Americans not being able to find another country on the map, this debate was dominated by a contest about who could better deal with global challenges.

The policy differences that flow from the assumptions behind these words are profound, and each captures the choice American voters will make.

Even as the contest started out with a question on cost of living and the economy, answers quickly steered into the international realm. Border control was a consistent complaint for Trump (“She doesn't want to be called the border czar because she’s embarrassed”) whereas Harris wanted to make it about character: “world leaders are laughing at Donald Trump”.

And for all the barbs, name-calling, taut grimaces and raised eyebrows, what was actually said by each candidate kept coming back to central themes. Two quotes struck me. Neither will fit on a bumper sticker nor lend themselves to a social media meme. But the policy differences that flow from the assumptions behind these words are profound, and each captures the choice American voters will make.

For Trump:

“Other countries are going to finally, after 75 years, pay us back for all that we’ve done for the world.”

Contrasted with Harris:

“It has been about standing as America always should, as a leader upholding international rules and norms.”

About the author

Daniel Flitton

Daniel Flitton is one of Australia’s most experienced foreign affairs journalists and is Managing Editor of the Lowy Institute’s international magazine, The Interpreter.

Topics

United States Elections