The much-anticipated debate between U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican contender Donald Trump took place on September 11, 2024, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. With the U.S. presidential election just around the corner, this 90-minute debate shed light on where both candidates stand on critical issues. Here are ten major takeaways:
1. Trump’s Disjointed Performance Throughout the debate, Trump struggled to stay on topic, often veering off into unrelated areas like immigration and bizarre accusations about pets. His responses lacked coherence, with his attacks on Harris overshadowing his ability to directly answer questions.
2. Different Approaches to the Ukraine Conflict Trump indicated he would broker a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, emphasizing diplomacy. In contrast, Harris firmly supported ongoing U.S. aid to Ukraine, stressing the importance of defending Ukraine’s sovereignty against Russian aggression.
3. Opposing Abortion Policies Harris pledged to protect women’s rights by signing a law to restore Roe v. Wade protections, if Congress passes it. Trump accused Democrats of supporting abortion after birth and argued that decisions on abortion should be left to individual states.
4. Divisive Views on the Gaza Conflict On the issue of Gaza, Trump accused Harris of being biased against Israel and claimed the war would not have happened if he were president. Harris responded by supporting a ceasefire to secure the release of Israeli captives, advocating for diplomacy in the region.
5. Harris Critiques Trump’s Leadership Harris launched sharp criticisms of Trump, calling him a disgrace and weak. She highlighted how several former Republican aides have distanced themselves from Trump, framing his leadership as a liability both domestically and internationally.
6. Clashing Economic Visions Harris attacked Trump’s economic policies, particularly his tariffs and tax cuts, arguing they favored the wealthy and increased the trade deficit. She laid out her vision for an opportunity economy aimed at supporting middle- and lower-income Americans. Trump, meanwhile, defended his economic record, blaming the current administration for inflation and the high cost of living.
7. Trump’s Portrayal of Harris as a Radical Trump attempted to paint Harris as a far-left extremist, labeling her a Marxist and accusing her of wanting to defund the police and seize firearms. Harris dismissed these as misrepresentations of her actual policies, positioning herself as a candidate for common-sense reforms.
8. Immigration Takes Center Stage Again Trump continued his focus on immigration, making bold claims about its negative impact on the country and asserting that immigrants were responsible for societal decline. He even bizarrely claimed immigrants in Ohio were eating pets. Harris countered, criticizing Trump’s constant fixation on the issue and offering a more balanced approach to immigration reform.
9. The January 6 Capitol Attack When the debate turned to the January 6 Capitol riot, Trump denied any responsibility, blaming others like Nancy Pelosi. Harris, who was at the Capitol during the attack, directly accused Trump of inciting the mob, calling his actions a threat to democracy.
10. Both Sides Claim Victory As expected, both campaigns declared victory following the debate. Trump described it as his best performance yet, while Democrats argued that Harris's strong, focused answers made her the clear winner.
This debate marked a crucial moment in the lead-up to the November 2024 election, offering voters a glimpse into each candidate’s vision for the future of the United States. The contrasting styles and policies of Trump and Harris set the stage for a closely contested election.