KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 – The debate between the US presidential candidates on Tuesday showcased a stark contrast in their approaches. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris argued based on facts and displayed caution, while Republican candidate Donald Trump operated from a place of emotion and political interest.
This perspective comes from Dr. Azmi Hasan, a geostrategist and Senior Fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research.
Azmi pointed out the differences in their stances on the Israel-Palestine issue. Harris was seen as more articulate in her support for Israel, especially concerning the international perspective on the issue, while also showing “some sympathy” for the suffering of Gaza’s residents.
“Perhaps because she (Harris) is a former Attorney General of California, she argues based on facts. Trump, on the other hand, argues from a standpoint of emotion and his own political interests… Trump has never expressed sorrow over the disaster in Gaza,” Azmi said on Wednesday.
According to Azmi, Trump’s emotionally driven, and politically motivated stance was evident during his previous debate with President Joe Biden, where Trump criticised Biden’s handling of the Israel-Palestine conflict and claimed that Hamas would be eliminated if he (Trump) were president.
Meanwhile, James Chin of the University of Tasmania said Trump primarily addressed his established base, while Harris targeted her messages towards undecided voters.
“Harris did a better job than Trump, even in terms of body language. Trump came across as aggressive and angry, whereas Kamala appeared calmer, more reserved, and emotionally stable,” he said.
Chin offered two key takeaways for Malaysian audiences from the debate. First, he emphasised the significance of high-level political debates.
“In Malaysia, we’re not used to this sort of high-level political debate,” he said, suggesting that such debates could enhance the political landscape in Malaysia.
Secondly, he pointed out the inward focus of the debate, indicating a shift in US foreign policy.
“It is quite obvious that the US is turning more towards itself. During the debate, foreign policy was not a major topic. Everything was about the US, its recovery, and its economy,” he said.
