The first presidential debate of the 2024 elections opened with a shake of a gesture that hasn’t been seen since 2016: Kamala Harris took the initiative and approached Donald Trump’s podium to shake his hand.
The debate, hosted in Philadelphia by ABC news, lasted over an hour and was the first direct exchange between candidates.
Trump and Harris were asked questions that dived deep into topics such as: abortion, the economy, immigration, personal policies and other issues that are of concern to American voters.
The debate started with the topic of economy and cost of living.
“I am actually the only person on this stage who has a plan that is about lifting up the middle class and working people of America,” said Harris.
Harris wants to build an opportunity economy, acknowledging that there is a housing shortage, housing is too expensive, young families need support in raising children and there needs to be more support for those wanting to start a small business.
Trump spoke about tariffs and having countries pay back the United States after 75 years.
Trump said that because of inflation, the nation’s economy is at its worst.
Trump said that when he was president he “created one of the greatest economies of the history of our county.”
Trump’s proposal is to increase tariffs goods across the border to 20 percent. Economists and Harris both have expressed that this means higher costs for consumers in areas such as gas and food, whereas Trump believes that the United States won’t have higher prices, and the U. S. will take in billions of dollars.
Lindsay Davis, ABC News’ presidential debate moderator, guided the candidates into the next topic, abortion.
Trump started with explaining that people have abortions within the ninth month and that Democrats are radical in their abortion policy—he was fact checked by Davis in that there is no state in the U.S. where it is legal to kill a baby after it is born.
Earlier this year, Roe v. Wade, a supreme court decision in 1973 protecting a pregnant persons right to have an abortion, was granted as a policy left to the states.
“Each individual state is voting, it’s the vote of the people now. It’s not tied up in the federal decision. I did a great service. It took courage in doing it,” said Trump.
Trump said that he strongly believes in some exceptions for abortion such as rape, incest and life of the mother.
Harris started by explaining that in over 20 states there are Trump abortion bans. These bans don’t only make it criminal for a doctor to perform the medical procedure, but also take away the decision from individuals that are the subjects of a violent crime such as rape.
“One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs that the government or Donald Trump certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with their body,” said Harris.
She pledged that when congress puts a bill to protect Roe v. Wade that as President of the United States, she will proudly sign it into law, whereas Trump would sign a national abortion ban.
Trump said that he wasn’t in favor of an abortion ban, however, didn’t clearly state, when asked twice, if he would veto a national abortion plan stating that, “We don’t have to discuss it.”
Immigration and border security was the next main topic debated.
Harris started by explaining that the U.S. congress and conservative members of the senate came up with a bill, that she supported, to better support the border in multiple areas.
Trump started off by saying that the people coming into America are eating the pets of the people that live here, referring to immigrants residing in Springfield, Ohio, according to what he saw on television.
ABC’s debate moderator, David Muir, explained that ABC news reached out to Springfield and that the city manager denies that is happening.
The debate of immigration strayed off topic as Harris spoke about the endorsements that she has received from the republican party, rather than addressing the issues of immigration.
Getting back on track, Trump believes that the democrats allow criminals, drug dealers and terrorists into the country to receive more votes. As a result, it has destroyed the fabric of the country.
“Crime is down all over the world except here,” said Trump. “Crime in this country is through the roof and we have a new form of crime called migrant crime and it is happening at levels that nobody thought possible.”
Muir fact checked trump saying that the FBI has explained that crime has gone down in the country. Trump said he disagreed with the FBI’s statements.
Harris said that his comments were “rich” as Trump has been prosecuted for crimes such as national security, election interference and is deemed liable for sexual assault—crimes of which he has a court hearing in November.
Lastly the topic of Israel and Hamas War, was brought into debate.
Harris took a moment to explain how the war got here— Hamas on Oct. 7 slaughtered 12 million Israelis.
“Israel has a right to defend themselves, we would. And how they do so matter,” said Harris. “It is also true that far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed.”
Harris explained that there needs to be a ceasefire deal with a two-state solution. Israeli people deserve security just as Palestine deserves equal protection, security, and dignity.
Trump didn’t discuss his view on Palestine, rather he brought up the war on Ukraine and Russia.
The next presidential debate is on Oct. 1 hosted by CBS evening news and is between vice president nominees JD Vance and Tim Walz.
