Tuesday night’s debate between America’s primary presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, was spirited, to say the least. Could we expect anything less as the most significant election in modern history is underway? There’s a lot on the line—reproductive rights, the economy, war—and whoever is elected will change the course of history forever. The debate was Trump and Harris’ biggest stage before voters hit the polls, and that one night could make or break their case for President. ABC News’ David Muir and Linsey Davis moderated a productive conversation where Harris and Trump clarified their stance on significant issues. Though they did not answer every question thoroughly, more understanding of their agendas on pressing issues is known, and we’ll expound on those. As you sift through their points, ask yourself — who has a plan and will aggressively advocate for the matters you care most about?
The Economy
Inflation and the economy are the number one issues for voters in America. Therefore, moderators played no games in addressing that topic first. Voters believe the economy was better under Trump’s administration than Biden’s, so they question Harris’ ability to lead us into fiscal success. In response to that concern, she expounded upon her “opportunity economy” plan, which focuses on building up the middle class by lowering the housing cost, extending the child tax credit, and adding a $50,000 tax deduction to small businesses.
Trump plans to boost our economy by charging countries with tariffs. He did not expand on how this would benefit our fiscal standing as he went on a tangent about migrants and crime during his allotted time to discuss it. We know that the Trump administration implemented tariffs in 2018-2019, which negatively affected our economy and will continue to negatively impact our economy if he keeps them in place. Harris called him out on this by stating that economists disagree with his tariffs plan.
But clock this: The Biden administration never eliminated the tariffs that Trump introduced during his presidency. In fact, more trade war tariffs were collected under President Biden than under Trump since Biden never got rid of them. The moderators allowed Harris to defend why that was the case, and she did not clarify.
Reproductive Rights
Finally, we have answers as to where each candidate stands on abortion. Even though one candidate has never changed their stance (cough cough). Harris has consistently advocated for reinstating national protections of Roe v Wade and wants to push for that to happen.
Trump is the one who switches his values. He supported then unsupported a six-week abortion ban in a matter of days, portraying him as “untrustworthy” to advocate for women’s reproductive rights. Tuesday night, he clarified that he will not be signing a national abortion ban; he wants to leave that power to the states. Trump is done with the abortion conversation. He wants to leave the policy where it is.
Immigration
Illegal border crossings reached a record high in the Biden administration. To slow down immigration, the President prevented migrants from seeking asylum in January. Biden wanted to avoid the topic of immigration from being a political liability, which was a motive to enforce the ban. When moderators asked Harris why the administration took so long to take action, she redirected the conversation back to the efforts they tried to make with the Bipartisan Border Security Deal. Unfortunately, after months, that bill collapsed because it didn’t receive support from Congress because of Trump’s influence on the Republican vote.
Trump wants his border plan to pass, as he promotes it as the bread-and-butter of his agenda. He wants to be known for his strict border policy. If elected, he would conduct the “largest domestic deportation operation” in our history. He wants to dispatch the National Guard, US Military, and local police to enforce border laws.
Israel vs Palestine
Protesters have been pressuring political figures to advocate for a ceasefire. The direction of many votes depends on the candidates’ response to protesters’ demands. Harris says that “Israel has a right to defend itself and how they do matters.” She agrees that the war has gone too far and must end. She commits to work “around the clock” on a ceasefire and two-state solution.
Trump vows to get the war “settled and fast” after boasting about his relationship with political leaders. He’s had a history of supporting Israel but has recently expressed disappointment with their actions. No formal strategy or siding was discussed during the debate.
Both candidates agree that the United States must remain respected, powerful, and lethal.
Whew—and this summary only covered a few topics. Throughout the ninety minutes, there was a lot of character assassination, diverging from questions, and “politicizing” answers. There’s more to demand of each candidate as election day gets closer. But as for the critical concerns, Tuesday’s debate clarified much of their agenda. Now, it’s up to America to decide.
About the Author: Shelby Denise Smith is a Social Media Editor and Freelance Writer. She’s passionate about lifestyle, wellness, travel, and culture. Smith enjoys packaging the insight she receives into stories that can positively impact the livelihood of others.