With voting day on the horizon, tensions continue to rise between the two presidential candidates. A couple of weeks ago, the two debated coarsely. Insults, attempts to defend, and stances on controversial issues were thrown about wildly. Harris mentioned Project 2025, to which Trump denied association. Trump criticized Harris’s performance as a Vice President while Harris criticized Trump for his election fraud and sex abuse cases.
Before the debate, polls unsurfaced no clear leader; the tight race showed around 49% for Harris and 48% for Trump. After the debate, a number of undecided voters are reportedly leaning to Kamala. Vice President Kamala, noted by both Republican and Democratic analysts, lured Donald Trump into heated and distracting tangents, which hurt his image.
Below are my notes from the debate on candidates’ prospective policy points. Note: much was talked about besides policy; lots of pointing fingers, of goading and other stratagems; I tried to stray away from non-policy related topics.
Debate Format and Key Points
The 2024 presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris was structured with specific rules:
- 2 minutes to answer questions
- 2 minutes for rebuttal
- 1 minute for follow-up
- No audience present
- No opening statement, and Trump won the coin toss for the closing statement
Economy and Cost of Living
Harris:
- Emphasized her background as a middle-class kid
- Focused on lifting up middle-class and working Americans
- Proposed an “opportunity economy” plan
- Addressed housing shortages and affordability issues
- Suggested a tax cut for parents
- Emphasized support for small businesses with a tax deduction for startups
Trump:
- Proposed tariffs rather than a sales tax
- Claimed tariffs during presidency brought in millions
- Highlighted concerns about inflation
- Linked immigration to economic issues
Democracy and Governance
Harris:
- Accused Trump of leaving behind the “worst attack on democracy”
- Mentioned cleaning up Trump’s “mess”
- Warned about Trump’s alleged “Project 2025” plans
Trump:
- Denied involvement with “Project 2025”
- Emphasized his past tax cuts and claimed a “great economy” during his term
Economic Plans and Critiques
Harris:
- Criticized Trump for lacking a comprehensive plan
- Warned that Trump’s plans could “explode the deficit” and potentially cause a recession
- Cited experts suggesting Trump was more focused on self-defense than the economy
Trump:
- Promised to incentivize job creation
- Proposed tariffs up to 20% on foreign imports
- Claimed his policies wouldn’t lead to higher prices for consumers
Harris:
- Defended the Biden administration’s retention of some tariffs
- Emphasized the importance of U.S. competitiveness in the 21st century
Abortion Rights
Trump:
- Criticized Democrats as “radical” on abortion
- Claimed credit for Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade
- Mentioned support for exceptions in abortion bans
Harris:
- Accused Trump of lying about abortion policies
- Highlighted Trump’s role in selecting Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade
- Appealed to women, highlighting the dangers of forced pregnancies
Immigration
Harris:
- Supported a border security bill
- Emphasized efforts against drug trafficking and illegal weapons
Trump:
- Focused heavily on immigration issues
- Addressed immigrants’ impact on society
January 6th and Legal Issues
Trump:
- Denied responsibility for the January 6th events
- Accused the Justice Department of being “weaponized” against him
Harris:
- Emphasized her values and principles
Israel-Hamas Conflict
Harris:
- Condemned Hamas’ October 7th attack
- Supported Israel’s right to self-defense
- Expressed concern for Palestinian civilians
- Called for a ceasefire and hostage release
- Advocated for a two-state solution
Trump:
- Claimed the conflict wouldn’t have occurred under his presidency
Ukraine-Russia Conflict
Harris:
- Defended the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine
- Highlighted international coalition-building efforts
Trump:
- Expressed desire to stop the war quickly
- Criticized the financial cost of supporting Ukraine
- Warned about the potential for World War III
Healthcare
Harris:
- Supported private healthcare options alongside the Affordable Care Act
- Promised to lower drug prices
- Viewed healthcare access as a right
Trump:
- Mentioned he worked on alternatives to the Affordable Care Act
- Lacked specific details on a healthcare plan
Climate Change
Harris:
- Highlighted investments in clean energy and climate initiatives
- Linked climate policies to job creation and economic growth
Trump:
- Did not directly address climate change policies