Economy, immigration and abortion take center stage in tense Trump-Harris debate

BY COLTON BRADBERRY / Multimedia Journalist

In a highly anticipated face-off, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris squared off on Tuesday Sept. 10, in Philadelphia at the National Constitution Center for their first—and possibly only—debate ahead of the 2024 presidential election. 

The 90-minute event, hosted by ABC News and moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis, drew nationwide attention as the two candidates discussed key issues like the economy, immigration and national security.

The debate, coming just eight weeks before Election Day, marks a crucial moment in the race as both candidates attempt to win over undecided voters in what is expected to be a tight contest. 

With Harris stepping into the role of Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race in June, the debate offered the first chance for voters to see how the two opponents compare directly on policy and leadership.

The first question of the debate was to Harris, asking if Americans were better off now than four years ago when it comes to the economy. Harris responded by positioning herself as the candidate for the middle class. 

Harris emphasized her “opportunity economy” plan, which includes affordable housing, a $6,000 child tax credit and a $50,000 tax deduction for small business startups. 

“So I was raised as a middle class kid and I am the only person on this stage who has a plan that is about lifting up the middle class and working people of America,” Harris said

She criticized Trump’s economic policies, particularly his tax cuts, as favoring the wealthy at the expense of the middle class, dubbing his proposed economic plans as a “Trump sales tax” that could cost families an additional $4,000 annually.

In response,Trump denied the existence of a “sales tax,” calling Harris's statement incorrect. Trump shifted the focus to his use of tariffs on other countries, particularly China, and blamed the Biden-Harris administration for inflation, which he described as the “worst in our nation’s history.” 

“We have inflation like very few people have ever seen before. Probably the worst in our nation's history,” Trump said. “We were at 21%. But that's being generous because many things are 50, 60, 70, and 80% higher than they were just a few years ago. This has been a disaster for people, for the middle class, but for every class.”

One of the more infamous moments in the debate came when former President Donald Trump claimed that immigrants in certain towns were eating cats and dogs. He cited places like Springfield, Ohio as examples of the chaos caused by what he described as the Biden-Harris administration’s mismanagement of immigration. 

Trump used this point to argue that the current administration is destroying the country and that a Harris presidency would lead to even greater disaster, likening it to "Venezuela on steroids."

This led to a fact check from the moderators. Muir clarified that ABC News had reached out to the city manager of Springfield, who stated that there were no credible reports of pets being harmed, injured or abused by the immigrant community.

When asked about his stance on abortion,Trump highlighted his role in overturning Roe vs. Wade, calling it a, “courageous act that returned decision-making power to individual states.” 

He reiterated his belief in exceptions for rape, incest  and the life of the mother, which he said aligns with the views of many Republicans. Trump emphasized that states, not the federal government, are now voting on abortion policies, citing this as a victory for democracy 

“Every legal scholar, every Democrat, every Republican, liberal, conservative, they all wanted this issue to be brought back to the states where the people could vote. And that's what happened, happened,” Trump said. “It's the vote of the people now. It's not tied up in the federal government.”

In response to Trump's comments on abortion, Harris accused him of orchestrating the overturn of Roe v. Wade by hand-selecting three Supreme Court justices. She condemned the resulting “Trump abortion bans” in over 20 states, which she argued criminalize healthcare providers and lack exceptions for rape and incest.

Harris shared emotional stories of women denied care and vowed to sign legislation reinstating Roe protections. She warned that a Trump re-election could lead to a national abortion ban and increased government control over women's reproductive rights.

“A survivor of a crime, a violation to their body, does not have the right to make a decision about what happens to their body next,” Harris said. “That is immoral. And one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government, and Donald Trump certainly, should not be telling a woman what to do with her body.” 

When the conversation shifted to foreign policy, Harris staunchly defended the withdrawal from Afghanistan, pointing out that it ended a costly, endless war. She took a direct shot at Trump’s negotiations with the Taliban, accusing him of being weak when inviting the terrorist organization to Camp David.

“He bypassed the Afghan government. He negotiated directly with a terrorist organization called the Taliban. The negotiation involved the Taliban getting 5,000 terrorists, Taliban terrorists released,” Harris said. 

Trump criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it one of the most embarrassing moments in U.S. history, citing the loss of military equipment and the abandonment of Americans. He further linked the administration’s perceived incompetence to Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine.

“We wouldn't have left many Americans behind. And we wouldn't have left -- we wouldn't have left $85 billion worth of brand new beautiful military equipment behind,” Trump said.

In addition to the key issues of the economy, immigration, abortion and foreign policy, the debate also touched on several other topics, including climate change, healthcare and the peaceful transfer of power.

Both candidates have faced criticism over the debate.

Elizabeth Schulze, a reporter for ABC, said  Harris avoided answering many questions. She noted that when Harris was asked about the economy being better four years ago, she started talking about her plans for the future.

“She didn’t answer the question, she instead pivoted to talk about in broad brush strokes some of the policies she's highlighting,” Schulze said.

A BBC report by Anothony Zurcher, says that Trump took the bait on every issue Harris brought up.

When Harris made a jab about Trump’s rally crowds leaving early, he couldn't let that go. Same with when she talked about his performance on the Capital riots, taking money from his father and his Taliban negotiation. 

“The pattern for much of this debate was Harris goading her Republican rival into making extended defenses of his past conduct and comments,” Zurcher said. “Time and time again as the evening progressed, Harris put Trump on the defensive with jabs and barbs that he could have ignored but seemingly felt compelled to address.”

According to a CNN flash poll after the debate, Debate watchers said, 63% to 37%, that Harris turned in a better performance on stage. But the same poll showed that Trump favorability with the economy grew from 53% to 55%.

While Harris won the debate, Trump is still winning on key issues like the economy and immigration, according to polls. 

Both candidates took the opportunity to highlight their stark differences on these subjects, with Harris emphasizing the need for forward-thinking leadership and Trump continuing to tout his past achievements. The wide range of topics reflected the high stakes of the upcoming election, as both candidates sought to solidify their bases while appealing to undecided voters.