On Sept. 10, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump took to the stage for their first debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
In case you missed the debate, here’s a recap of the night.
The debate started with a handshake initiated by Harris, followed by their first topic: the economy.
Harris began by telling her story of growing up in a middle-class family. She said she's the “only one person on this stage who has a plan about lifting the middle class and working people of America.”
Harris plans to create an “opportunity economy” to support the working and middle class. The plan is to extend a $6,000 tax cut for young families who struggle financially. Harris also said she plans to “give a $50,000 tax deduction to start up small businesses” and an additional $25,000 in assistance to new home buyers.
Trump plans to increase tariffs on other countries by up to 20%. He argued that the increase in tariffs would not surge the prices of gas, food, medication, etc. for Americans. In addition, he stated that he plans to cut taxes, but he did not give any specifics.
Harris argues that Trump's economic plan would increase inflation and invite a recession within the middle of next year, which Trump denied.
Harris and Trump also shared their thoughts on the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, which ended the federal legality of abortion and turned the legality of abortion over to the states.
Trump supports the overturn of Roe v. Wade. He said women are having abortions in the 9th month and “executing” babies after birth. Lindsey Davis, one of the debate moderators, fact-checked Trump and said, “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.”
Harris stated that as president of the United States, she would sign a bill passed by Congress into law if they reinstated the protections of Roe v. Wade.
As president, Harris also plans to further tackle border security after an increase in immigrants to the United States within the past year.
Trump said there are too many immigrants entering the country, and goes on to say that they (immigrants) are eating people's pets in Springfield, Ohio. David Muir, the other moderator, struck down that claim and said, “There have been no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by the immigrant community.”
Trump plans to deport 11 million or more immigrants, but failed to express how he would carry out that plan.
The Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection incited by Trump after the November 2020 election was also brought up. The insurrection led to Congress's impeachment case for Trump, but he continued to state that he played no part in that day other than giving a speech, and had nothing to apologize for.
On the topic of foreign policy, the moderators started with questioning about Ukraine.
Harris said that as vice president she had met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, to talk defense strategies. She’s also gained support for Ukraine from 50 countries. As president, she said she would continue to provide war materials and support for Ukraine.
Trump said to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been going on for two years under Biden's administration, he plans to sit down with both Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia. He said he and Putin have “a good relationship.”
They also discussed the war in Gaza and how they would resolve it.
Harris said she will continue to stand in support of Israel's right to defend themselves after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 2023, which has led to the deaths of more than 40,000 Palestinian civilians and around 100 Israeli hostages still remaining in Gaza. She wants to work on a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. She also stated that she supports a ceasefire, but will not impose an arms embargo on Israel.
Trump stated that he supports Israel as well, claiming that Harris “hates Israel,” which Harris denies.
Harris also supports Biden's decision to pull American troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, and holds no regrets about the way the withdrawal led to the death of 13 American soldiers. Trump said the Biden Administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan was the “worst withdrawal and in my opinion the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country.”
They then shifted their attention to the Affordable Care Act.
Trump called the Affordable Care Act “lousy healthcare,” and has “concepts of a plan” to improve it.
Harris has started working with Biden to improve Medicare for Americans, and plans to continue if she is elected president. They have worked on negotiating drug prices for Americans. “We have capped the cost of Insulin at $35 a month. Since I’ve been vice president we have capped the cost of prescription medication for seniors at $2000 a year,” said Harris. She plans to do that for all people when she is president because “access to healthcare is a right.”
Lastly, they focused on climate change, which the moderators said is one of the most important issues to young American voters this election cycle.
Harris plans to invest in clean air energy and automobile companies to tackle climate change. However, she would not ban fracking.
Trump, on the other hand, is against clean air energy and argued that Harris would ban fracking. “She wants to confiscate your guns and she will never allow fracking in Pennsylvania. If she won the election, fracking in Pennsylvania will end on day one,” said Trump.
Throughout the debate, Harris was most focused on sharing her plans for improving middle-class livelihood, abortion rights, foreign military power, foreign intervention and Medicaid. On the other hand, Trump was more focused on relaying his support for tax cuts for the wealthy, creating harsher immigration policy and stricter foreign intervention as president.
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Umu Sow (she/her) is a freshman majoring in Political Science and double minoring in global, international studies and French. Her free time includes cooking and reading romcoms and fantasy books.
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