Debate Highlights: Trump and Harris offer differing visions for the nation

By: Maria Condron

Vice President Kamala Harris shakes hands with former President Donald Trump during the Sept. 10 presidential debate in Philadelphia. (Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris faced off in a contentious debate Tuesday night aired live on ABC from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. During the debate, the second of this election cycle and perhaps the only one between Harris and Trump, the two candidates’ divergent visions of America under their potential presidencies were displayed. At the beginning of the debate, Trump and Harris shook hands, the first time since 2016 that two presidential nominees did so before a debate. The rest of the night, however, was much less civil.

The debate began with a series of questions about the economy. Emphasizing her middle-class roots, Harris mentioned her plan to create an “opportunity economy,” including $6000 child tax credits, grants for small business owners and up to $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. Trump said Biden and Harris “destroyed the economy,” and his economic plan involved substantial tariffs on countries like China. The former president appeared to wave off concerns that said tariffs would increase prices for Americans and that his proposed tax cut would cost middle-class Americans an average of $4000 per year.

Trump attacked Harris on immigration, repeatedly claiming that the Biden-Harris administration’s policies on immigration had created an influx of migrant crime in America. When moderators said violent crime rates had actually gone down in the United States, Trump said FBI reports cited by the moderators were fraudulent.  In one baffling moment, Trump claimed immigrants were stealing and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, citing “people on television” as evidence even after moderator David Muir said there were no credible reports of this occuring. To this exchange, Harris responded, “Talk about extreme.”

Throughout the debate, Harris frequently returned to a line from her opening statement: “You’re going to hear a lot of lies tonight.” One such instance occurred when the debate turned toward abortion. Trump repeated the false claim that 9-month and post-birth abortions were prevalent before Roe v. Wade was overturned. He also credited himself with bringing the issue of abortion back to the states, saying “We got what everybody wanted.” Once again, Trump dodged the question of whether he would veto a bill protecting abortion access on a federal level, saying he “would not have to” because the bill could not pass through Congress.

Another frequent point of friction between the two candidates was Harris’ changing position on fracking. Moderator Linsey Davis asked Harris about the issue as part of a question if shifts in Harris’ policies signaled changes in her values. While Harris answered that she had not and would not ban fracking, Trump alleged several times during the debate that Harris would end the practice if elected. During an exchange on the topic, Trump said, “I’m talking now, sound familiar?” in reference to a viral moment during Harris’ 2020 debate with former Vice President Mike Pence.

The debate was characterized by former President Trump repeatedly dodging questions. When asked if there was anything Trump regretted about his actions on January 6, 2021, the former president neglected to answer the question, choosing instead to place the blame on former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the mayor of Washington, D.C. He also refused to admit that he lost the 2020 election, promting Harris to respond, “Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people. So let’s be clear about that. And clearly he is having a very difficult time processing that.”

Trump also refused to say that Ukraine winning the war against Russia was in the best interest of the United States. Instead, Trump said he would end the Russia-Ukraine war before even being sworn in, although he neglected to provide a plan for doing so. In response, Harris emphasized Trump’s lack of rapport with world leaders and leaders within the military. “The American people deserve better,” she said. Trump cited far-right Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán in response, claiming to be feared and respected by several world leaders.

In her closing statement, Harris emphasized that she and Trump had two different visions: one focused on the future, one focused on the past. “We are not going back,” she said, echoing a chant commonly heard at Harris campaign rallies. Trump, who won the coin toss for the last word in the debate, chose to emphasize America under Biden and Harris as a failed state, calling Harris “the worst vice president in the history of our country.”