BY EMERSON LAYNE

Missed the 2024 presidential debate? No worries! Here’s a recap just for you!

On Tuesday, September 10th, ABC hosted the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The debate took place at The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and featured David Muir and Linsey Davis as moderators. 

The debate started out as normal, both candidates were introduced, shook hands, and the debate started with the first initial question on the economy. However, that was about as long as normalcy lasted. Current Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris made a remark about Donald Trump’s crowds leaving at his rallies which set him off on a rant featuring enough misinformation and lies that the moderators ended up fact-checking him. This set-up repeated itself several times as the moderators were called on to fact check Trump after many outlandish statements. As for Kamala Harris, the majority of the polls released to the public after the debate showed her winning the debate by a substantial margin. Those polled liked Harris answering questions thoroughly, having clearer plans than Trump, and she rated higher on questions about candidate honesty.

One of the moments from the debate that caught fire on social media was Trump’s rumor mongering about Haitian immigrants kidnapping and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. Springfield’s City Manager, Bryan Heck, stated that there were no credible reports regarding immigrants eating pets or any illegal activity within Springfield. Even the Springfield Police Department has stated there hasn’t been any reports regarding pets being stolen or eaten. When confronted with the evidence Trump doubled down saying he saw the information on television. Throughout the presidential debate Trump continued to bring up Springfield in regards to monitoring and deporting the immigrant population. 

Another major rumor regarding immigrants that has been circling around is the viral video of armed men raiding apartments in Aurora, Colorado. Trump and many other conservatives have been spreading this viral video around claiming Venezuela gangs were taking over the apartment complex. Residents of the apartment complex stated that it wasn’t immigrant gangs who were in the video, even the Chief of Police Heather Morris dispelled the claims, stating it wasn’t immigrant gangs taking over the complex. But yet again, Trump during the presidential debate spread this false narrative that has been disproven by multiple sources. 

When Trump was pressed about his actions during January 6th he claimed that he asked for 10,000 soldiers to be sent to the capitol, but got rejected by Nancy Pelosi. The January 6th committee released a report saying there was little basis in his claim, or little to no evidence he made that request at all. A little later in the debate, Harris brought up Charlottesville, which were violent protests reportedly full of white nationalists and neo-nazis. Harris quoted Trump, saying that “there were fine people on either side”, though Trump claimed it was in regards to the quiet, unrelated protesters of the event, to which there is no evidence of such protesters. Trump also continued to falsely claim that he lost the 2020 election due to a technicality in the courts. Trump filed lawsuits to many judges in different states in regards to the 2020 election, each judge finding the evidence presented to be lacking or nothing thereof. Trump also continued his stance that he did in fact win the 2020 presidential election, though this has been proven false in the courts repeatedly.

As for Harris, the debate was her first real opportunity to frame her candidacy and policies to a wide audience. She touted her economic plans which Goldman Sachs and the Wharton School of Business believe to be stronger than Trump’s plans. Trump’s economic plan would increase the deficit and Harris’ plan would strengthen the economy. Harris pressed Trump on issues surrounding climate change and race by using Trump’s own quotes against him. She cited Trump claiming that climate change is a hoax to hit him over his energy plans. She called out his actions regarding the Central Park Five and his history of housing discrimination cases as a way to expose his views on race. Harris also did well at reinforcing her values on policies and giving more personal details about her background while making sure to stay on offense against Trump and bait him into getting off message.

The early polls suggest that the 2024 presidential debate was a major win for Harris and a night to forget for Trump. Harris was a sharp and quick witted candidate while Trump was stuck in his lies and hateful rhetoric. In the words of Harris herself, “the same old, tired playbook”.