Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – With eight weeks before the U.S. presidential election, the heated debate pitted Senator Kamala Harris against President Donald Trump. The debate, with over 50 days to go until Americans vote for their next president, gave insight into each candidate’s plan for America’s future. The event attracted huge attention both within the United States and internationally, given that U.S. policies have worldwide impacts.
Point of Discussion in the Debate:
- The Economy: Kamala Harris said during the debate that Donald Trump left Democrats with “the worst unemployment since the Great Depression.” This is misleading because, though the unemployment rate peaked at 14.8% in April this year owing to COVID-19, it had fallen to 6.4% during the time Trump left office.
- Inflation Harris promised a tax credit for families and small business owners but accused Trump of favoring billionaires. Trump responded with a hyperbolic assertion of inflation under President Biden: “Inflation is at 21% today,” he said. The right current figure is 2.9 percent. Inflation reached as high as 9.1% last year, but Trump’s figures are well exaggerated.
- Immigration and Crime Trump said, “Millions and millions” of immigrants from countries like Venezuela are streaming into the U.S. and committing crimes, including killing pets. Law enforcement officials have discredited this statement, saying that no such credible incidents have occurred. Overall crime rates in the United States have been trending downward, including for both violent and property crimes. According to the FBI, the first quarter of 2024 saw a further reduction of 15% in comparison with the prior year.
- Abortion This interchange became heated as Trump hailed his efforts placing conservative judges on the Supreme Court who overturned the protections afforded by Roe v. Wade. Trump incorrectly said Democrats support “execution after birth.” Harris set the record straight, and fact-checkers have confirmed no state allows infanticide, which is against the law across the country.
- U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan Trump falsely said the value of U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan was $85 billion. Congressional reports put the figure at about $7 billion. Harris added that Trump had invited the Taliban to Camp David, which fact-checkers confirmed was true.
The first debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris was full of heated interjections and fact-checking as both candidates attacked each other on key issues: the economy, immigration, and foreign policy. With the election looming, this debate gave a very good glimpse to voters of the candidate’s vision for the future of the United States.
