In a highly charged 90-minute debate on Tuesday night at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris clashed over key issues such as the economy, immigration, and abortion.
The debate marked their first confrontation during the U.S. 2024 election campaign, and it was defined by sharp exchanges and pointed attacks.
Moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis who works for ABC News – a left-leaning news organization that does not hide its ideological preference for Democratic Party values. Shortly after the debate concluded, Trump told Fox News Digital – that leans Republican, that he thought it was his “best debate ever, especially because it was three-on-one.”
On Economy
The debate began on the economy—first questioning the Vice President Harris on whether Americans “are better off than they were four years ago?” Harris did not directly respond to the question, instead, she incorrectly claimed Trump wanted to introduce a “Trump sales tax” on everyday goods. Trump dismissed the claim as an “incorrect statement.”
Moderators chimed in, suggesting Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on other countries would pass on higher costs to consumers.
But Trump countered, pointing to the high inflation of the Biden-Harris administration, calling it the “worst in our nation’s history,” while touting the record economy under his administration.
On Immigration
On immigration, Trump criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s border policies, describing them as disastrous, while Harris countered by highlighting the failures of Trump’s immigration policies.
She aimed at his handling of foreign policy, particularly the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, which Trump blamed on the current administration, accusing Harris and President Biden of incompetence that led to the deaths of 13 U.S. soldiers.
On Abortion
Abortion was another contentious topic, with Harris claiming Trump would impose a national abortion ban.
“As far as the abortion ban, no, I’m not in favor of an abortion ban, but it doesn’t matter, because this issue has now been taken over by the states,” Trump said.
Despite saying he would not support a national abortion ban, ABC moderators pressed Trump on whether he would veto a bill to do so.
And Harris, when questioned, refused to say if she supports any abortion restrictions up to birth.
Harris later claimed there would be a national abortion ban if Trump is elected, and falsely said there would be a “monitor that would be monitoring your pregnancies, your miscarriages.”
Trump denied the accusation, stressing that he supports leaving the issue to the states following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. Harris leveraged her advantage on this issue, making an emotional appeal to women affected by abortion bans.
Viewers Give It to Harris
Snap polls indicated Harris had the upper hand in the debate, as her jabs frequently left Trump defending himself on personal and policy fronts. Her strategy of rattling Trump seemed to pay off, while the former president focused on his previous administration’s achievements and criticized the current state of the nation under Harris and Biden.
Both candidates returned to the campaign trail immediately following the debate, with Harris heading to North Carolina and Trump traveling to Arizona, signaling the intensification of their battle for the White House.
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