Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris faced off in their first presidential debate Tuesday night, less than two months away from the election.
The two candidates spoke about their positions on the economy, climate change, reproductive rights and foreign policy at the debate, which took place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA.
ABC News anchors and debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis opened the event by asking both candidates whether they believe Americans are better off in the current economic climate compared to four years ago.
Harris did not explicitly answer the question. She said her economic plan includes a $6,000 child tax credit and a $50,000 tax deduction for start-up small businesses. She said Trump would apply a 20% sales tax on “everyday goods” — a claim Trump denied.
Trump said the current level of inflation is “a disaster for people.” He said he would continue his prior policy of placing tariffs on foreign countries. He said illegal immigrants are taking “jobs that are occupied right now by African Americans and Hispanics.”
“Everybody knows I’m an open book, everybody knows what I’m going to do,” Trump said. “Cut taxes very substantially and create a great economy like I did before.”
The moderators asked candidates about their respective stances on abortion. Harris reinforced her support for reinstating the national protections of Roe v. Wade, clarifying several state abortion bans do not make exceptions for rape or incest. Trump said this is a lie, and that he is not in favor of a national abortion ban.
“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.”
Trump said Harris’ vice presidential pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is comfortable with abortion in the ninth month and “execution after birth.” Davis, fact-checking Trump, clarified there “is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.”
When asked about the Israel-Hamas War, Harris reaffirmed her support for Israel but also said “too many innocent Palestinians have been killed.” She voiced support for a ceasefire deal and release of the hostages held by Hamas.
“We must have a two-state solution where we can rebuild Gaza, where the Palestinians have security, self-determination and the dignity they so rightly deserve,” Harris said.
Trump said Harris “hates Israel” and “in her own way” hates Arab people. He said the conflict in the Middle East “would have never happened” had he been president, but he did not elaborate further.
“If (Harris is) president, I believe that Israel will not exist within two years from now,” Trump said. “And I’ve been pretty good at predictions.”
Shortly after the debate concluded, the Harris campaign called for there to be a second one before Election Day on Nov. 5, but it’s unclear whether the Trump campaign will agree. Vice presidential candidates J.D. Vance and Tim Walz will debate on Oct. 1.
