Overview: The first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump was held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, moderated by ABC news anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis. The debate focused on pressing topics such as inflation, climate change, and immigration. Harris’ plan includes extending a tax cut of $6,000 for young families and giving a $50,000 tax deduction to start-up small businesses. Trump criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s record on manufacturing jobs and claimed that the United States has millions of people pouring into the country from prisons, jails, and mental institutions. Harris referred to her background in prosecution, stating that she was the only person on the stage who had prosecuted transnational criminal organizations for the trafficking of guns, drugs, and human beings.
Alyssah Hall
ABC hosted the first presidential debate on Sept. 10 between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. The debate was one for the history books.
The ABC debate was held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and moderated by American broadcast journalists and ABC news anchors, David Muir and Linsey Davis. There was no live audience.
For 90 minutes, the candidates were asked about pressing topics such as inflation, climate change and immigration. This debate was the first time Harris and Trump went toe-to-toe after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 Presidential Election and endorsed Harris.
Millions of viewers tuned into the debate to learn more about the candidates’ views of the issues. Just ahead of the November 5 election, here is how the top two candidates addressed three of America’s most pressing issues:
Inflation
The first topic posed to the candidates came from Muir on what he stated was the number one voter issue: the economy and the cost of living in the U.S.
According to the Public Policy Institute of California, price increases have remained constant, between an annual rate of 3.1% to 3.5% since October 2023. However, inflation in the state is above the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%.
Harris stated that her plan is to build an “opportunity economy,” in which she intends on extending a tax cut of $6,000 for young families in need of support. Harris noted that this would be the largest child tax credit given by the government in a long time.
In regard to small businesses, Harris also plans to give a $50,000 tax deduction to start-up small businesses, calling them part of the backbone of America’s economy.
Trump bragged about having “virtually no inflation” during his time as president. While inflation was low during the pandemic, inflation rates soared during the post-pandemic period during the Biden-Harris administration, hitting 9.1% in 2022, according to the Consumer Price Index.
“Other countries are going to finally, after 75 years, pay us back for all that we’ve done for the world,” Trump said during the debate.
Some viewers have been criticizing Harris for not talking about policy.
“Initially, you even see that in the first question about her ‘opportunity economy,’ where she was starting to talk about funds for first-time home buyers, for example, and other sorts of things, which is very much policy. Whereas Trump seems to be held to sort of a different standard in terms of what’s acceptable about policy — this is not a criticism of either,” said Richard Carpiano, PhD, professor of Public Policy at the University of California, Riverside.
Climate Change
The moderators asked about climate change, acknowledging that the topic is a key issue for a number of Americans, younger voters, in particular.
Inland Empire residents are heavily impacted by climate change, especially with three large wildfires currently raging across the IE, contributing to the already poor air quality.
Over the last week, more than 50,000 acres have burned across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties as the Line Fire grows across the San Bernardino mountain communities and the Bridge Fire expanded into San Bernardino County from Los Angeles County. The Airport Fire in Orange County has now crossed over into Riverside County. The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued several air quality advisories, citing unhealthy air levels for sensitive groups and recommending the use of protective air masks.
Harris and Trump didn’t share specific climate plans they had, but Harris acknowledged that climate change is very real and needs to be addressed.
“You ask anyone who lives in a state who has experienced these extreme weather occurrences who now is either being denied home insurance or it’s being jacked up,” she said during the debate.
Trump did not directly answer the question about climate change, rather he criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s record on manufacturing jobs.
Immigration and border security
The topic of immigration and border security was brought up abruptly by Trump during the discussion of the economy.
“We have millions of people pouring into our country from prisons and jails, from mental institutions and insane asylums. And they’re coming in and they’re taking jobs that are occupied right now by African Americans and Hispanics and also unions,” Trump said during the debate. Trump’s comment spiked reactions as it reflected his earlier comments about “Black jobs” in June during his debate with Biden.
“Harris definitely came off with the stronger performance of the two. The tactics that put Trump repeatedly on the defense and not just bait him in terms of things that might be his weaknesses; or, to give more of an incomplete, or even at times, a bumbling answer. But, [Harris] really forced him to spend more time sort of refuting, than actually being able to define his message and what he was to the audience,” Carpiano said.
Some criticized ABC and their moderators for appearing biased toward Harris during the debate.
“@ABC is a disgrace. My phone is lighting up with nonstop messages about how extremely biased ABC is during this debate. Kamala Harris is VP RIGHT NOW. People can’t afford anything RIGHT NOW. The border is out of control RIGHT NOW. But ABC is in attack mode against Trump!” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted via X.
Harris referred to her background in prosecution stating that she was the only person on the stage who had prosecuted transnational criminal organizations for the trafficking of guns, drugs, and human beings.
“The United States Congress, including some of the most conservative members of the United States Senate, came up with a border security bill which I supported. And that bill would have put 1,500 more border agents on the border to help those folks who are working there right now over time trying to do their job,” Harris said.
After the debate, the Harris campaign extended an invitation to Trump for another debate. According to reports, Trump declined the invitation.