Key takeaways from Harris, Trump debate

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump held their first debate last night in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The face-off included intense exchanges on critical issues, including the economy, inflation, abortion, tariffs, and taxes.

The roughly 90-minute debate also involved personal attacks.

The debate kicked off with clashes on the economy. Harris criticized Trump for benefiting billionaires with his tax policies, while Trump called her a “Marxist.”

Other takeaways from the debate involved:

Inflation and immigration: Trump attacked Harris by tying her to President Joe Biden and blaming their administration for inflation and immigration problems. In her response, Harris proposed plans to reduce housing prices.

Tariffs: The VP pointed out that Trump’s sweeping tariffs proposed on imports from China and Europe would increase the sales tax Americans pay. Trump argued the Biden administration kept the tariffs he initially imposed, signaling it benefited the country.

Taxes: Harris attacked Trump’s plan to impose 20% taxes on everyday goods, saying it would affect middle-class families. Trump defended the proposal, saying consumer prices would be affected. The Democratic nominee also discussed her plans to give $6,000 tax credits to parents of newborns and as well as bringing back the pandemic-era expanded Child Tax Credit.

Abortion was another critical issue that came up in the debate where Trump deflected on whether he would veto a national abortion ban. Harris highlighted the consequences of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, emphasizing women’s rights.

Throughout the debate, Harris focused on distancing herself from Biden and Trump and portrayed herself as a new leader with a vision for the future. She appeared to appeal to undecided voters by referencing national unity and bipartisanship.

Who was better?
According to the Associated Press, Harris baited Trump and increasingly put him on the defensive, which won’t sit well with voters.

A significant moment came after the debate when Taylor Swift announced her support for Harris, which could energize younger voters.

Harris also challenged Trump for a rematch, stating she was ready for another debate in October. Trump’s reaction was mixed. He initially said Harris wanted another debate “because she lost,” but when pressed on, commented, “Maybe if it was on a fair network.”