PHILADELPHIA — The first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris featured the two candidates sparring over policy issues, including the economy, abortion, immigration, and the war between Israel and Hamas.
ABC News hosted the debate at Philadelphia's National Constitution Center on Tuesday night. It was moderated by Linsey Davis and David Muir, who attempted to fact-check comments made during the night.
The debate featured no audience, and the microphones for both candidates were muted until they were specifically asked to speak. At times, the candidates engaged in crosstalk outside their time allotment and frequently interrupted the moderators to rebut the opposing candidate.
The two candidates did shake hands after Harris initiated the awkward greeting when they first walked on the stage. "I’m Kamala Harris," she said in their first face-to-face meeting.
Here are the Washington Examiner's top 10 takeaways from the Trump and Harris matchup.
2024 PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE LIVE UPDATES: TRUMP AND HARRIS FACE OFF IN ABC SHOWDOWN
1. The candidates spar over the economy
As soon as the debate started, moderators questioned both Harris and Trump over how they would handle the economy, leading the two candidates to trade barbs.
"We know that young families need support to raise their children , and I intend on extending a tax cut for those families of $6,000, which is the largest child tax credit that we have given in a long time, so that those young families can afford to buy a crib, buy a car seat, and buy clothes for their children," Harris said before accusing Trump of helping the billionaire class.
"My opponent, on the other hand, his plan is to do what he has done before, which is to provide a tax cut for billionaires and big corporations, which will result in $5 trillion to America's deficit," Harris taunted.
Trump quickly responded by calling Harris out for incorrectly describing his economic record. "I created one of the greatest economies in the history of our country. I'll do it again and even better," he claimed.
The former president also defended his handling of the coronavirus pandemic after Harris attacked his administration. "We did a phenomenal job with a pandemic. We handed them over a country with the economy and where the stock market was higher than it was before the pandemic came in — nobody's ever seen anything like it," he claimed.
The economy is the top issue for voters as the nation continues to recover from the pandemic. Both candidates have slammed the other for rising grocery prices in an attempt to win over voters.
2. Abortion wars come to the stage
Abortion has become another top issue of the election after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in June 2022, sending abortion access back to states.
Harris had made reproductive rights a cornerstone of her work for the Biden administration. Trump, however, reprised his accusation that Democrats support allowing abortion just before birth before a moderator claimed that it was not legal.
"They have abortion in the ninth month," Trump alleged before attacking Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN). "Her vice presidential pick says abortion in the ninth month is absolutely fine."
Davis fact-checked Trump on this comment and claimed it was false. "There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it's born," she said.
Harris said she would "proudly sign" a new law to restore the protections of Roe while Trump defended his support for the government funding in vitro fertilization , once again calling Harris a liar as she attacked his support of restricting abortion.
"And I pledge to you, when Congress passes a bill to put back in place the protections of Roe v. Wade as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law," Harris said. "But understand, if Donald Trump were to be reelected, he will sign an actual abortion ban."
"There she goes again. It's a lie. I'm not signing a ban, and there's no reason to sign the ban because we've gotten what everybody wanted. Democrats, Republicans, and everybody else, and every legal scholar wanted it to be brought back into the states," Trump responded.
Asked whether he would veto a federal abortion ban , as his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), said he would, Trump demurred on his position: "I didn't discuss it with J.D."
3. Trump brings up debunked Ohio story on migrants eating pets
During the segment on immigration, Trump brought up a since-debunked claim that Haitian immigrants were eating animals in Springfield, Ohio.
"In Springfield, they're eating the dogs, people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating, they're eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what's happening in our country," Trump said. "And it's a shame."
Muir responded by telling Trump the local police had not confirmed that immigrants are eating pet animals. "There have been no credible reports of pets being harmed," Muir said.
Harris also needled Trump over the size of his rallies during the immigration discussion. "I'm going to actually do something really unusual," Harris said, "and I'm going to invite you to attend one of Donald Trump's rallies — because it's a really interesting thing to watch."
Trump shot back, claiming that her crowd sizes are contrived. "Let me respond to the rallies. She said people started leaving. People don't go to her rallies. There's no reason to go," Trump said. "And the people that do go, she's busing them in and paying them to be there."
Before the debate, she had released an ad featuring former President Barack Obama taunting Trump over his concern with crowd sizes during the Democratic National Convention.
4. Trump legal issues come to the forefront
Harris attacked Trump over his numerous legal cases, including his criminal indictments and his 34-count felony conviction, as she pivoted away from Trump attacking her about the migrant crime problem.
"They allowed people to come and drug dealers to come into our country," Trump said, slamming Harris. " Crime in this country is through the roof, and they have a new form of crime. It's called migrant crime, and it's happening at levels that nobody thought possible."
"Well, I think this is so rich coming from someone who has been prosecuted for national security crimes, economic problems, election interference, has been found liable for sexual assault," Harris said. "And his next big court appearance is in November at his own criminal sentencing."
“I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things that they say about me,” Trump retorted in reference to his assassination attempt.
He also claimed Democrats "weaponized the Justice Department" when given the chance to speak.
"Every one of those cases was started by them against their political opponent. And I'm winning most of them, and I'll win the rest on appeal," Trump said in response to Harris's taunt.
Most of Trump's legal problems will likely not be settled until after the November election as judges avoid the perception they are interfering with the 2024 election.
5. Harris tries to explain flip-flopping on issues
When asked about her recent decisions to reverse her policy positions, including on banning fracking , mandatory government buyback programs for assault weapons, and decriminalizing border crossings, Harris claimed her values had not changed.
"Let's talk about fracking because we're here in Pennsylvania. I made that very clear in 2020 I will not ban fracking," she said, glossing over her 2019 position when she told a CNN audience there was "no question" she's in favor of banning fracking. "I did not ban fracking as vice president. In fact, I was the tiebreaking vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, which opened new leases for fracking."
“My position is that we have got to invest in diverse sources of energy so we reduce our reliance on foreign oil,” Harris continued. “We have had the largest increase in domestic oil production in history because of an approach that recognizes that we cannot over-rely on foreign oil.”
The Keystone State is the most important battleground state that Harris will need to win, and fracking is a key industry for the state.
Her reversal on fracking is seen as a way to appease voters in the must-win state who are supportive of the fracking industry for their livelihood.
6. Trump doesn't offer regret for Jan. 6 and revives 2020 stolen election claims
Trump was repeatedly asked to say if he had any regrets following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot following his 2020 election loss. The former president declined to say he had any regrets in the aftermath of the cycle.
"I have nothing to do with that, other than they asked me to make a speech. I showed up for a speech. I said, I think it's going to be big," Trump said about the Capitol attack, adding that it was up to then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser to make safety preparations.
"It wasn't done by me. It was done by others. ... It would have never happened if Nancy Pelosi and the mayor of Washington did their jobs," Trump continued.
"The question was about you, Mr. President, not about former Speaker Pelosi," Muir responded after Trump finished speaking.
Harris used the moment to slam Trump's actions in not calling off the rioters earlier on the day of the attack.
"I was at the Capitol on Jan. 6. I was the vice president-elect. I was also an active senator ," she said. "I was there. And on that day, the president of the United States incited a violent mob to attack our nation's capital, to desecrate our nation's capital."
On the 2020 election, Trump said he was being sarcastic when Muir asked if he had accepted he lost the election by a whisker.
"I said that?” Trump asked before again suggesting he didn't lose. "That was said sarcastically. Look, there's so much proof. All you have to do is look at it, and they should have sent it back to the legislatures for approval."
Muir said, "I didn't detect the sarcasm," before Harris firmly claimed that Trump lost the election.
"Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people. So let's be clear about that. And clearly, he is having a very difficult time processing that," Harris said. "But we cannot afford to have a president of the United States who attempts, as he did in the past, to upend the will of the voters in a free and fair election.
Trump and the Republican National Committee have filed multiple lawsuits this cycle to protect the integrity of the election in response to 2020.
7. Israel and Ukraine lead foreign policy topics
The several global conflicts that have erupted over the last three years were another topic of disagreement during the debate.
The vice president defended Israel's right to defense in its battle against Hamas, but Trump was not convinced, claiming that Harris “hates Israel" and that if she were president, “ Israel will not exist within two years from now." Democrats have split over whether to support Israel due to allegations of genocide in Gaza.
“That’s absolutely not true,” Harris responded. “I have my entire career and life supported Israel and the Israeli people,” Harris continued. “He knows that. He’s trying to, again, divide and distract from the reality, which is it is very well known: Donald Trump is weak and wrong on national security and foreign policy.”
David Muir: "Do you want Ukraine to win this war?
Former President Trump: "I want this war to stop. I want to save lives..." pic.twitter.com/rcM8DOGICi
— CSPAN (@cspan)
September 11, 2024 Trump also claimed that he wanted the war between Ukraine and Russia to end but dodged whether he backed U.S. ally Ukraine as the winner. "I want the war to stop. I want to save lives," Trump said when asked whether he wants a Ukraine victory. "People being killed by the millions. It's the millions. It's so much worse than the numbers at beginning, which are fake numbers."
8. The debate gets personal
Harris clearly attempted to get under Trump's skin on Tuesday by continuously calling him a "disgrace," claiming world leaders were " laughing " at him, and generally baiting him with taunting comments.
“I have traveled the world as vice president of the United States, and world leaders are laughing at Donald Trump,” Harris said. “I have talked with military leaders, some of whom worked with you, and they say you’re a disgrace.”
Trump kept claiming that Harris's accusations on his record were not true. Oftentimes, Harris was shown shaking her head at the former president, laughing at him, or looking at him incredulously.
The vice president also repeatedly kept reminding Trump that she, not Biden, was his opponent.
Trump tried to link Harris to Biden's unpopular record but also claimed Biden despises his chosen successor.
"I'll give you a little secret. He hates her," Trump said. "He can't stand her."
Trump was even asked about his past comments about Harris's biracial identity, in particular on whether she "turned" black, which he attempted to downplay.
9. Trump loses his cool
As Harris attempted to anger him, Trump barely looked Harris in the face during the debate, while Harris spent much of her attacks on Trump facing toward him.
Oftentimes, the former president cut off the moderators to respond to a comment from Harris.
In an attempt to blunt Harris, Trump flipped her trademark "I'm speaking" quip that brought laughter from the vice president. “Wait a minute, I’m talking now,” Trump said to Harris as they were discussing the vice president's flip-flopping. “Sound familiar?”
Trump appeared hesitant even to shake Harris's hand at the beginning of the debate but relented after Harris went up to him and stuck out her hand to introduce herself.
10. Moderators' fact checks lead to some backlash online
Muir and Davis's interjections to push back on some of Trump's claims led to some backlash from Republicans online.
It could also lend Trump ammunition to claim that the moderators favored Harris, which he had teased even before the Tuesday debate.
Frank Luntz, the GOP pollster, wrote on X that Muir "arguing with Trump will fuel the narrative that these moderators are biased against him."
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) wrote on X that "ABC’s bias is off the charts tonight. This isn’t journalism. It’s political activism."
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Several Trump surrogates also echoed those comments in the spin room following the debate. "I thought that they definitely leaned to the left side of American politics," Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) said. "But listen, as a Republican, we're accustomed to dealing with moderators who don't play it straight down the middle and keep Democrat members on task."
"I think the voters have seen media bias," Republican Vivek Ramaswamy said. "And so that's not the only thing I want to want to talk about, but when it came to issues of core policy, I actually think Donald Trump won the debate on core policy."
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