Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump had their first, and possibly only, debate on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The debate was hosted by ABC News and held in Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center. The moderators were David Muir, anchor of “ABC World News Tonight” and Linsey Davis, anchor of “ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis”.
The debate was 90 minutes long with two commercial breaks, beginning at 9 p.m. The questions and topics were not shared with the campaigns before the debate. Each candidate had two minutes to answer each question, two minutes for rebuttals and one minute for follow-ups, clarification or responses. The microphones were muted until it was that candidate’s turn to speak. There were no pre-written notes and no audience.
As the candidates were invited to the stage, Harris made her way over to Trump to shake his hand and introduce herself. Muir began the debate by asking about the economy, which he said is voters’ most important issue. Harris began by discussing her upbringing in a middle-class household and her plan to build an “opportunity economy”. She talked about her plan for a
$6,000 child tax credit and to give a $50,000 tax deduction to small business startups. In his response, Trump discussed his plan to impose, in some cases, “substantial tariffs” on other countries.
About inflation, Trump said, “We have inflation like very few people have ever seen before. Probably the worst in our nation’s history.” This, according to ABC News, is not true. Early in Biden’s presidency, the inflation rate was at 9%, but that was not the highest it’s ever been. After World War II, and during the oil shortages of the 1970’s-80’s, inflation went as high as 14.5%. As of July 2024, the inflation rate is 2.9%, the lowest in three years, according to ABC News.
Harris discussed Project 2025, a 900-page policy blueprint published in April 2023 by the Heritage Foundation, which is made up of some former advisors and allies to Trump. Some of the topics in it include the reorganization of federal agencies, national security, the economy and writing regulations. Harris claimed that Trump “intends to implement” this plan if elected, but Trump denied any association with it. He called the plan “seriously extreme,” though he and the plan support similar measures, such as mass deportation of undocumented immigrants and a border wall.
We have inflation like very few people have ever seen before. Probably the worst in our nation’s history
Former President Donald Trump
Davis then turned to the topic of abortion. Trump claimed that Harris and her vice president pick, Tim Walz, support abortion in the ninth month of pregnancy and support “execution after birth”. Davis fact-checked him after this statement, saying that there is no state where it is legal to kill a baby after it has been born.
Harris claimed that Trump would “sign a national abortion ban” if reelected. According to ABC News, this is not true. Trump has stated multiple times that he “will leave the issue up to the states,” said ABC. Harris and Trump began arguing about abortion, interrupting Davis as she tried to ask questions. Both candidates’ microphones were turned on, despite the rule that they would be muted until it was their turn to speak.
The debate shifted to immigration, where Harris reminded viewers of her experience as a prosecutor dealing with “transnational criminal organizations.” She discussed the bipartisan bill from earlier this year that would have added 1,500 border agents to the U.S.- Mexico border and funded constriction for a new border wall. Trump called for Republicans to oppose the bill, and the bill died in the Senate in May.
In his response to Harris, Trump brought up the claim that Haitian migrants are eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. Muir fact-checked him, saying that the city manager of Springfield told ABC News there were “no credible reports” of migrants harming or eating pets. In response, Trump said, “We’ll find out.” Harris responded by calling Trump “extreme” and cited the 200 Republicans, including those who worked for Trump, who have endorsed her. Trump responded by saying he “fired most of those people.”
Throughout the rest of the debate, Harris and Trump discussed the attack on the capital on Jan. 6, 2021, and the legitimacy of the 2020 election. Trump denied involvement in inciting the attack and refused to acknowledge that he lost the 2020 election. He said that the U.S. needs two things: “borders” and “good elections.”
Regarding the Israel-Hamas war, Harris called for a cease-fire and a two-state solution. She also said that she will “always give Israel the ability to defend itself.” Trump said that Harris was not present when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared before Congress to make a speech about the war in July 2024. Trump also said that if he were president, the Israel- Hamas war, as well as the Russia-Ukraine war, would have never happened. As conversation continued about Ukraine and Russia, Harris reminded Trump: “you’re not running against Joe Biden, you’re running against me.” Tensions grew high again as Trump told Harris “Quiet, please,” before he responded to a question. Both candidates were combative as the moderators tried to ask questions, eager to get their respective points across.
In her closing statement, Harris chose to highlight her vision that is “focused on the future.” She talked about “the aspirations, the dreams, the hopes, the ambition” of the American people. She recapped her career from district attorney to senator to vice president, and said she wanted to be a “president for all Americans.” Trump said that Harris has been in the White House for three-and-a-half years already but has implemented none of the policies she discussed during the debate. He called the U.S. a “failing nation” and called Harris “the worst vice president in the history of our country.”
Harris and Trump’s campaigns have both said they are willing to meet again in another debate, but that has yet to be scheduled. The next scheduled debate, which will be between Trump’s vice-presidential pick, J.D. Vance, and Harris’s pick, Tim Walz, is scheduled for Oct. 1 in New York City, hosted by CBS News.