The 2024 United States presidential debate aired live Tuesday, September 10. The presidential candidates, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, took the stage with debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis.
The debate started off with a handshake initiated by Harris. This is the first handshake in a presidential debate since 2016.
Photo by Saul Loeb via billboard
The Economy
Harris was asked to answer the first question which regarded Americans and if they are better off in the economy than they were four years ago. The vice president explained her economic plans, with what she refers to an “Opportunity Economy”. Her plan is to give a $6,000 tax cut for new families and $50,000 tax deduction for small businesses to start up.
Harris mentioned Goldman Sachs, Wharton School of Business, and 16 Nobel Laureates favored her plan.
Trump states that he will do tariffs on other countries if reelected. He said Wharton School of Business professors reviewed his plan and called it, “brilliant”.
“Other countries are going to finally after 75 years pay us back for all that we’ve done for the world,” former President Trump said.
He continues, referring to his former presidency, that he had tariffs, but no inflation and that inflation is a “country buster”.
“Donald Trump left us with the worst unemployment rate since the Great Depression,” Harris said. “Donald Trump left us the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.”
Harris introduces Project 2025 into the debate stating that Trump is involved with the plan. Trump denies all association with Project 2025.
Abortion Laws
Trump mentioned that 85% of republicans exclude rape, incest, and the mother’s health when considering abortion law. Harris counters this by saying that there are states with no exception for rape or incest.
Harris said she fully supports reinstating Roe v. Wade. She brought up the three members of the Supreme Court justices, who were selected by Donald Trump, they were a part or the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Kamala Harris claimed he would sign a national abortion ban, once again bringing up Project 2025 plans and his claimed involvement.
Trump said Harris would never get the vote from congress and that it reminds him of President Biden’s plan of getting student loans terminated.
Davis asked if he would veto a national abortion ban, and Trump responded with answer, “We don’t have to discuss it because she’d never be able to get it [the vote from congress], just like she couldn’t get student loans.”
Former President Trump brought up previous Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Harris running mate, Tim Walz, claiming that Northam said they would “execute” babies when they’re born.
“There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born,” Davis said.
Immigration
Kamala Harris brought up that she supported the U.S. congress border security bill that was never put into law. She said Donald Trump told members from congress to “kill the bill”.
Trump mentioned early in the debate that immigrants are taking American jobs, he states that they come from prisons, mental institutions, and insane asylums.
“The people in Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in they’re [immigrants] eating the cats,” former President Donald Trump said. “They’re eating the pets of the people that live there. This is what is happening to our country, and it is a shame.”
ABC News reached out to Springfield, Ohio city manager and there were no credible reports to support Trump’s claims.
International Affairs
Both candidates said they want wars to end. Harris spoke about meeting Zelensky before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She believes that there are innocent lives being lost on both sides of the Israel and Palestine conflict. Harris wants a ceasefire deal and wants the hostages to be freed. The vice president agreed with President Joe Biden pulling out of Afghanistan.
Former President Trump mentioned that the war between Israel and Palestine never would have happened if he was president. When asked if Trump wants Ukraine to win the war he answered, “I want the war to stop, I want to save lives.”
Voting Information
The last day to register to vote by mail or in person for this election is October 7, 2024.
The in-person voting deadline is November 5, 2024.
Visit https://registertovoteflorida.gov/eligibilityreactive?ref=voteusa_en for more information.