Former president Donald Trump and Vice Pres. Kamala Harris faced off Tuesday night, in what may be the only presidential debate before the election. Republicans and Democrats, divided in their beliefs over the last few years, sat glued to their televisions waiting to see how this contest of political wills could potentially change the country’s course.
The debate was watched by 67.1 million viewers, a 31% increase over the Trump-Biden debate. Some issues the candidates debated included the economy and the impact of inflation, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, climate change and conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.
The debate kicked off with a discussion of the economy. Harris introduced an idea that she is looking to implement called an “Opportunity Economy”. This policy revolves around investment in the middle class and small business and emphasized her hope that this section of Americans receives tax cuts and financial support to afford basic goods. She also said plans to put into place a program that would help first-time home buyers. She ended her statement by addressing Trump’s financial plan.
“A 20% tax on everyday goods that you rely on to get through the month,” said Harris. “Economists have said that Trump’s sales tax would actually result in middle-class families [paying] about $4,000 more a year.”
Fact-checkers present at the debate showed this tax would only cost families around $3,900 a year.
Trump refuted her claims and said he intends to implement tariffs. He moved on to the topic of inflation, falsely claiming that the inflation rate was at 21 percent when it is currently at 2.5%. Instead of continuing his plan with tariffs, the former president blamed the recent state of the economy on the migrant problem, claiming that the U.S. has “millions of people pouring into our country.”
“They are taking over the towns. They’re taking over buildings. They’re going in violently,” said Trump. “These are the people that she and Biden let into our country.”
The vice president responded by assuring the American people that she has a plan whereas Trump does not.
After debating their plans for the economy, the candidates shared their plans regarding abortion. When asked if women should trust him and his abortion policy, Trump again moved to the topic of the Democrats’ view on abortion. He falsely claimed that Harris’ “…vice presidential pick says abortion in the ninth month is absolutely fine. [Walz] also says execution after birth, it’s execution, no longer abortion because the baby is born, is okay.”
Moderator Linsey Davis fact-checked this and said there is no state where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.
Harris responded to the question with her plan and said that the freedom to make decisions about one’s body should not be left to the government. With the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, the Biden administration worked to reinstate the decision, while many Republicans supported an abortion ban, or the decision being left to the individual states.
Moderator David Muir turned the conversation to border control and the immigration issue. Muir asked Harris why Pres. Biden waited until six months before the election to address the crisis and if Harris would handle it differently. Harris, a former prosecuting attorney, said that she had experience prosecuting people who use the U.S. border for illegal activities such as drugs, guns, and human trafficking. She said she also supported a bipartisan bill that would place 1,500 new agents on the country’s borders. Unfortunately, before the bill could be passed, Harris claimed, Trump prefers to “run on a problem, instead of fixing the problem.”.
“Donald Trump got on the phone, called up some folks in Congress, and said kill the bill,” Harris said.
The former president’s response to this was pointed toward the migrant problem.
“Our country is being lost,” said Trump. “[Look] what they have done to our country by allowing these millions and millions of people to come into our country… In Springfield, [Ohio], they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating — they’re eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country.”
Muir fact-checked this and said there have been no reports from the officials in Springfield, of anybody eating any dogs or cats.
Overall, the debate was more clearly defined for both candidates; but more importantly, there were clearly defined lines on issues for the American people. It remains to be seen if Harris’ talk of an “Opportunity Economy” will become a reality for individuals and businesses or just more political rhetoric. That said, she did try to instill in the American people hope – hope for a strong president and hope that the president will make the right decisions for the good of the people. She has a strong plan for the economy, one that may benefit the country for generations. She has hope that her administration will give the right to choose back to the women of America. The Vice President has the support of both parties to add security to our borders. She advocates for a two-state solution to the War in Gaza and has invested money to turn our climate crisis around.
Former President Trump had none of those things.
On top of the false statements and disrespect of the current administration, he has dangerous plans for tax increases, pride for banning abortion, no plan to fix our border, no plans to help the Middle East or Ukraine and no response to the climate change crisis.
Harris tells the American people to “turn the page on this. Let’s not go back. Let’s chart a course for the future and not go backward to the past.”
Though neither candidate gave specific policies or clear answers to every question, people were able to understand Harris’ position on key issues and were left with negative commentary and rhetoric by the former president.
Trump, perhaps still licking wounds suffered during this debate, later announced he would not debate Harris a second time. This leaves the American people only one more opportunity to decide: the debate between vice presidential candidates, JD. Vance and Tim Walz.
