The presidential debate started with discussing inflation and both candidates´ economic plans. Harris stated, “My plan is to give a $50,000 tax deduction to start-up small businesses, knowing they are a part of the backbone of America´s economy.” Trump responded by criticizing the Biden-Harris administration for causing inflation.
Harris claimed that Donald Trump left the nation with the “worst attack on democracy since the Civil War.” This references the 2020 election when Trump supporters stormed Congress, while they were in session, to stop Biden and Harris from being elected.
“Everybody knows what I´m going to do, which is cut taxes very substantially and create a great economy like I did before.,” said Trump.
Harris said the Trump administration resulted in “a trade deficit, one of the highest we´ve seen in the history of America.” She believes that the country was buying way more than it was selling during the course of his term.
The moderators brought up the topic of abortion and asked for the candidates’ opinions. Trump stated, “I believe in exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother.” He defended that overturning Roe v. Wade lets the people of the states vote on what the limit should be instead of the court’s ruling over abortion. Trump declared that he does not support a national abortion ban, but when asked whether he would veto such a ban, he said, “I won’t have to,” and argued that it is “just talk.”
Harris responded and said, “The government and Donald Trump certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with her body.” She explained that she would sign legislation to restore Roe protections if it gets through Congress.
Harris believes the bipartisan border deal made under the Biden-Harris administration failed due to Trump. She said, “He’d prefer to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem.” She is convinced that Trump persuaded Republicans not to vote for the deal so he could take the credit instead of Biden and Harris.
Harris later declared that Hamas “slaughtered” the Israelis and claimed that Israel had a right to defend themselves. She said the only way for the war to end is by having cease fire from both sides, and the hostages have to be released. Trump mentioned the sanctions he put on Iran and how Iran was providing military support to Hamas. He blamed the Biden-Harris administration for taking out the sanctions his administration put on Iran for supporting terrorist organizations.
The candidates then discussed their healthcare plans. The moderators asked Trump if he had a plan, to which Trump responded, “I have concepts of a plan. I´m not the president right now.” He delivered this statement to follow up on his failed efforts to repeal ObamaCare. Trump stated, “We are working on things. We´re going to do it, and we´re going to replace it.”
For a long time, the former president has criticized the health care law signed under President Obama, but Republican efforts to repeal it during his term had failed. Since then, Trump said he would keep the law unless they can do something that is “much better.”
On the other hand, Harris wants to “maintain and grow” the Affordable Care Act. She mentioned the achievements made under the Biden-Harris administration to strengthen the ACA. Harris made it aware that the administration has negotiated drug prices and capped the cost of insulin. The vice president addressed that health care should be “a right and not just a privilege of those who can afford it.”
For Trump’s closing statement, he mainly focused on criticizing Harris instead of explaining the plans for his next administration. Trump stated, “She’s going to do this, she’s going to do that, she’s going to do all these wonderful things.” He continued, saying, “Why hasn’t she done it?” He calls out that Harris had three and a half years to fix the border and create jobs, yet she hasn’t done it. Trump concludes, “We’re a nation that’s in serious decline.”
Harris took a different approach to her statement. She claimed that her vision for the country is to focus on the future, meanwhile Trump is focused on the past. The vice president declared that the nation will not go back, but “chart a new way forward.” Lastly, Harris shared her goals for the future. She stated, “I intend to create an opportunity economy, investing in small businesses, in new families, and what we can do around protecting seniors, what we can do that is about giving hardworking folks a break and bringing down the cost of living.” Both closing statements prove how the candidates have very different visions for our country’s future.
