Trump will 'speak a lot of untruths', says Harris ahead of Tuesday's presidential debate

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Monday warned that Donald Trump is “probably going to speak a lot of untruths” during their debate on Tuesday night.

According to The Guardian report, she said that her Republican opponent will likely revert to personal attacks, pointing to the “playbook” he used with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

“There’s no floor for him in terms of how low he will go,” The Guardian quoted Harris as saying in an interview with Rickey Smiley that aired on Monday morning.

Harris said that she will be prepared for it and for the the fact that he is not burdened by telling the truth.

“And we should be prepared for the fact that he is probably going to speak a lot of untruths. I think he’s going to lie,” Harris added.

According to a CNN report, citing a source, part of Harris’ campaign strategy for Tuesday’s debate involves using the platform to introduce the vice president to undecided voters while also aiming to highlight former President Trump’s “true colors”.

While the campaign has boasted of the recent momentum behind the vice president, Harris aides and allies see Tuesday night’s debate as an opening to try to broaden the base, added the report.

“She definitely is aware that there still remain voters who are open to her as a candidate —how she will govern and who she is,” CNN quoted a close Harris ally as saying, adding that the vice president is trying to reach the “Kamala curious voters.”

According to the report, citing sources, Harris is well-prepared for Trump’s likely strategies but will stay focused on policy issues and her vision to appeal to persuadable voters.

“She’s very aware of who he is and what he’s going to bring,” CNN quoted a source as saying. “She has a plan. She has a vision. She’s going to put it forward,” added the source.

Harris had previously prepared to counter Trump’s unpredictability and his attacks on personal freedoms. Her preparation for Tuesday’s debate has evolved from her initial strategy against Trump’s vice presidential nominee JD Vance.

“She’s been prepping for this for a long time,” another source told CNN.

“Vance was a stand-in for Trump. We were always taking it to Trump,” added the source.

The much-awaited debate between Harris and Trump will take place on Tuesday at 9 pm (ET) at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The debate will be 90 minutes long and include two commercial breaks.

According to NBC News, while Trump is preparing by having meetings with and getting foreign policy coaching from allies, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Harris has been participating in mock debates with Philippe Reines, who also played Trump during Hillary Clinton’s debate prep in 2016.

The keystone state — where both Harris and Trump have spent a lot of time campaigning — could determine the outcome of the presidential election. The battleground state has narrowly flip-flopped in recent elections, with Biden turning Pennsylvania blue in 2020 after Trump secured a red win in 2016.

With inputs from agencies