Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump faced off on the debate stage in Philadelphia Tuesday evening, a major moment in a campaign that polling shows is evenly tied nationally and in the swing states.
The two candidates exchanged barbs constantly before a large audience on television and online, though not in studio where no attendees were allowed.
The debate began with a discussion about the economy and elevated prices, which have risen over 22% since Harris took office.
When asked about that rise in prices that took place while she was in the White House, Harris said she had a plan to address those costs, specifically pointing to a larger child tax credit and a $50,000 tax deduction for those starting small businesses, without saying how she would pay for it or how it would bring down consumer costs. The ABC moderators did not press her on how her policies would lower consumer prices, which she has blamed on corporate price gouging. Harris has said she would enact government-controlled price controls, which many critics note have failed in the past.
Trump pointed to the success of his tariffs on foreign goods and decried the spike in inflation, calling it “probably the worst in our nation’s history” and pointing out that many goods have become far more expensive than the average increase. Poll after poll have shown that inflation and the economy are voters’ top concern heading into the November election.
Trump then pivoted to illegal immigration, saying migrants are taking jobs from African Americans, Latino Americans and union workers. He blamed the crisis on Harris, who served as the border czar as illegal immigration soared. More than 12.5 million illegal immigrants have entered the U.S. during Harris’ time as vice president. Trump on Tuesday said the number was likely more than 20 million.
Trump also pledged to cut taxes “very substantially.”
“We had the greatest economy, we got hit with a pandemic,” Trump said, promising to restore the economic success under his administration and saying that jobs created under the Biden-Harris administration were only jobs recovered from those lost during the pandemic.
Harris shot back saying Trump’s tax breaks would only benefit the wealthy, Sherepeatedly pointed to her “opportunity economy,” without offering details as to what that means.
Trump in fact accused Harris of lacking details in her economic proposal, a criticism Harris has taken for weeks leading up to the debate.
“Everything that she believed three years ago and three, four years ago is out the window,” Trump said, before saying Harris was a Marxist who was adopting his policies.
Candidates were given two minutes to answer questions and one minute for follow ups and rebuttals. No pre-written notes were allowed, and there were no opening statements.
ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis moderated the debate, which lasted 90 minutes. Harris and Trump had reportedly never met before the debate and shared an awkward handshake before it began.
On the abortion issue, Harris lambasted Trump for appointing three U.S. Supreme Court justices who were instrumental in overturning Roe v. Wade, sending the abortion issue back to the states.
“I pledged to you when Congress passes a bill to put back the protections of Roe v Wade, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law,” Harris said.
Harris also said Trump would sign a national abortion ban, though Trump has repeatedly said he would not do so.
“I’m not signing a ban,” Trump said. “The states are voting, and it may take a little time, but for 52 years this issue has torn our country apart and they wanted it back in the states.”
Trump also attacked Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, accusing him of supporting late-term and post-birth abortion.
The debate then turned to immigration, though Trump repeatedly brought up the ongoing border crisis throughout the night. Harris was asked why the Biden-Harris administration did so little on illegal immigration despite the crisis.
She didn’t answer directly but attacked Trump for what she said was his killing of an immigration bill in the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate earlier this year. The bill was never called for a vote. Republicans had issues with the bill, since it would have given more power to the head of U.S. Department of Homeland Security to allow migrants into the U.S., among other things.
Trump confirmed his pledge to use local police and the National Guard to deport millions of illegal immigrants in the U.S., saying many are criminals and terrorists.
Federal data has shown that more than 1,000 migrants attempting to illegally enter the U.S. are on the FBI terror watch list.
Harris moved on from the immigration issue to attack Trump for his criminal convictions, pointing out he faces a sentencing hearing in November just after the election.
Harris previously supported decriminalizing border crossings, banning fracking, and requiring a mandatory buyback of assault weapons.
She has reversed on all three of those issues.
When asked about those reversals at the debate, she repeated her claim that her values have not changed, without explaining her position changes. The ABC moderators did not press her on those policy flip-flops.
Trump jumped on this issue, attacking Harris for her previous support for the “defund the police” movement.
Harris again stated her support for Israel’s right to self defense in its war against Hamas, though she called for a ceasefire deal and a two-state solution immediately.
Trump responded by saying the Israel-Hamas war and the Russia-Ukraine war never would have started if he were president.
“The leaders of other countries think they are weak and incompetent,” Trump said, going on to say that the chaotic and deadly Afghanistan withdrawal emboldened Russian leader Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine.
The debate comes with less than two months until election day. Both candidates have publicly expressed interest in more debates but none have been confirmed.
