(The Center Square) – 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.
Harris said “she had a plan” “was going to” without saying what the plan is.
(Why has she not done so during the last 4 years in power?)
Harris repeatedly pointed to her “opportunity economy,”
without offering details as to what that means.
Harris was asked why the Biden-Harris administration did so little on illegal immigration despite the crisis. (allowing over 12 Million homeless illegal immigrants criminals into our country)
Harris didn’t answer directly but attacked Trump
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.
THE PEOPLE need to understand that this Harrowing Hustling Harris’s attempts to divert the minds and attentions of THE PEOPLE by personalizing in Trump as the source of the pains she and Joe democrat party actually dispensed,,,, may have succeeded in elevating her the true status of a manipulating monster of minutia, but to those who truly understand that “You will know them by their fruits”, she will actually still become to be known not by her deeds, but her duds. A big leaguer,,,,only in the minds of the great intriguers.
AND also, why is it she never EXPLAINS WHAT HER PLAN IS!?
Trump has many a time, explained how HIS plans will help.
Harris’s Opportunity economy hogwash, the only opportunities of her proffered and pandered Opportunity economy created was to give the ruling Democrat political party apparatchiks an opportunity to enrich themselves at the taxpayer’s expense. TRUMP should have sternly looked straight into the camera as asked THE PEOPLE,,”Do you ever wonder how empty headed politicians like Joe Biden leave office after 50 years of government fleecing and money laundering of the taxpayers money in kickbacks received for illegal votes sold?,,then retire with a full overloaded bank accounts (or in Joe’s or case get thrown out from office) tens of millions of dollars richer than the sum total of all the Government salaries paid over the 50 plus years he was paid? How about Pelosi whose stock broker husband got all the insider tips from companies her votes favored before the interests of THE PEOPLE?…. Certainly not the middle-class inflation fleeced working stiff who gets very little interest earned on his forced Social Security payments now being financed stolen to finance failed social experiments that defy human nature, opportunistically leveraged in borrowed money and unredeemable Taxpayer I.O.U.’s? This is the only opportunity economy they have delivered,,,you will know them by their deeds if you just follow the money where they get al the opportunities to collect it.
“a larger child tax credit and a $50,000 tax deduction for those starting small businesses,” paid of course not with her own money but the misguided money of THE PEOPLE in ANOTHER Squidly Quid gift that expected a Pro reward using other people’s money! How Generous of her?? Harris only won anything in this debate by approaching a draw and not completely revealing her true deficiencies. Great people talk about ideas, average people talk about events, SMALL people only talk about and demean other people….which is all we saw from Harris in debate,,,,just talk about Trump but mention nothing about her own immoral betrayal of Willie Brown’s wife in the quid quo pro affair they engaged in that created her SFO career.
Time and truth are not on Harris or Biden’s side. Sooner rather than later, people who get fooled will wise up in the pain they were given by the very people who deceived them and rise up in their righteous anger against those who dispersed it. Have you paid your bills today???
“Harris Burns Trump in a flash poll” is the media response to what was actually just another lighted fart in factory of fatuous fact-finding fornications, where no Harris facts are presented, Just more lies and improvised promises of Imp imaged improving nothingness.
AND Since we’ve seen FACT AFTER FACT showing the sheer FRAUD IN those ‘child tax credits’, by migrants who CLAIM THE SAME KIDS, many a time still livng back in mexico or elsewhere, WHY the hell should we EXPAND IT?
Don’t they already GET ENOUGH TAX PAYER FREEBIES for popping out sprog after sprog?
IS That not being totally and utterly discriminatory towards those who are single/have no kids?
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.
And none will happen. I highly doubt the Dems are as stupid as the Republicans to accept a debate that isn’t TOTALLY STACKED IN HER FAVOR. She dodged the Fox debate, got what she wanted last night and now will ride it to the election. Once again the GOP snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. So tired of it !!
Truth is Trump lost last night. She had him on the defense and kept him there.
Republicans, Trump. STOP setting yourself up for a fall.
They damn well knew the Liberal Media would be biased against Trump and probably even gave her the questions prior to the debate.
I believe Trump lost, not in the eye of those that know the facts but to the average voter who will decide this election. All I’m hearing this morning is ‘the Liberal Media was biased against Trump’… well guess what, the average person doesn’t know or care. Losers complain about bias, winners don’t.
Republicans have no right to complain, they knowingly walked into it and got what they deserved.
Let the one star downvoting begin !!
Trump only lost in the fact he allowed her and her handlers to come up with a tie. Harris can sing her Siren Songs of seriousness and fake joy all she wants while the stage is lit and the mis-orchestrated but alluring music plays, but when the curtain goes down and THE PEOPLE awaken the next morning short of rations and rationality, they will arise in anger to remove the festering political pimple that has irritated the seats of their behinds for now going on 4 years. Who but a selfish butt-flagellating, leather loving and Hunter Biden sex-obsessed Kamala machinating masochist, votes for 4 MORE rears of that? Who votes for a Harris Hoax of a leadership impersonator that took 3 weeks of 24/7 hours of deception beguilement coaching on how to put on the very Trump face of experience and competency, purloining the best of his workable anti-Biden Harris’d policies, in order to defeat the very goodness that he has delivered, but she can only create hope for, in false promises to perform? Perhaps Trump should have put on the very face of her evil in order to defeat it, because in the end BOTH once elected will revert to who they really are. Trump Common good, Harris to uncommon Communism.
Trump only lost in the fact he allowed her and her handlers to come up with a tie
Never should have happened !
All Trump had to do is in his opening statement was to Pronounce that “Great men and leaders talk about ideas, Average people talk only of events, but small people with small minds just talk about and tear down other people in an attenpt to level the playing field or tie in a debate” EVERY TIME Kamala personally attacked Trump, His proper repsonse would have been ” Well folks there goes and gores the evidence of how small the mind of Kamala actually has become” from the woman who for 3 and a half YEARS covered up and LIED about the disability and incompetence of the Biden Presidential mind. When THEY cannot trust THE PEOPLE with the Truth, THE PEOPLE should not trust them with their governance! This is the results delivering Trump Vance Ticket, not stumbling Harris Walz Dance about the truth ticket.
AND trump knowingly GOT BAITED, time and time again..
So he only has himself to blame.
AND trump knowingly GOT BAITED, time and time again..
So he only has himself to blame.
Yes, exactly.
No more debates. Leave nothing to chance. Religious right and conservative evangelicals may be enough. Wild crowd on GOP lock. He’s fighting for more than just POTUS. If he loses, consider all the cases he’ll be facing. His opponent appears gracious enough, may just pardon him. Problem is not that much going wrong, so debating is mute activity. Mr. Trump would do well to skip debates.
“His opponent appears gracious enough, may just pardon him.”
This is Kamala Harris you’re referring to? She might be inclined to pardon Trump, for nothing, after she pulled the lever on him.
THE ONLY one she’s gonna pardon is Biden!
“Federal data has shown that more than 1,000 migrants attempting to illegally enter the U.S. are on the FBI terror watch list.”
At an average of four terrorists per plane, that’s a mere 250 possible hijackings. At two per pressure cooker bomb it’s just 500 “events”. Acting as “Lone Wolf Oppressed” it’s over 1,000.
What’s the problem?
TO Demented treasonous dems, Nothing!