In a high-stakes debate held Tuesday night in Philadelphia, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump faced off in what is likely their only scheduled debate before the 2024 election.
Hosted by ABC News, the debate highlighted contrasts between the two candidates on a range of issues.
1. Harris Successfully Redirects Focus to Trump
Kamala Harris effectively made the debate about Donald Trump, shifting the focus away from her record and onto Trump’s vulnerabilities. She brought up his criminal trials, Project 2025, the January 6 Capitol riot, and his controversial remarks, and criticized his policies on various fronts.
She took sharp jabs at Trump, including a comment about his rallies: “People start leaving the rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom,” she mocked.
Harris also used Trump’s economic policies as a focal point, referencing a negative review of his economic policies from his alma mater, the Wharton School.
“It’s time to turn the page. We don’t have to go back to January 6th. We’re not going back,” she added.
This strategy put Trump on the defensive and limited his ability to criticize her record effectively. Harris argued for a less chaotic presidency, urging voters to “turn the page” from Trump’s divisive approach.
2. Trump’s Performance Marred by Misinformation
Donald Trump’s debate performance was marked by a series of misinformation. He made several false claims that Democrats support executing babies after birth and that undocumented immigrants were committing widespread crimes.
Notably, Trump insisted, without evidence, that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio were engaging in bizarre and dehumanizing behaviors such as eating pets—claims that were widely debunked.
“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” he asserted.
Despite his attempts to portray Harris as out of touch with mainstream voters, Trump’s reliance on falsehoods and his defensive posture were evident. He spent significant time defending his record and policies rather than directly challenging Harris on her positions. His frequent interruptions and insistence on discussing migrant crime, while a real issue for some voters, did not resonate as effectively as his campaign might have hoped.
3. Harris’s Defense of Abortion Rights
One of Harris’s standout moments was her defense of abortion rights. She criticized Trump’s record on abortion and his administration’s impact on reproductive freedoms, framing the issue as a critical moral and legal concern.
Harris condemned abortion bans in Republican-controlled states as “insulting” and “unconscionable.”
Trump’s attempt to downplay the issue by claiming Democrats do not set clear limits on abortion and focusing on states’ rights did not effectively counter Harris’s strong arguments for reinstating Roe v. Wade and addressing the consequences of restrictive abortion laws.
4. Immigration and Border Security
Trump repeatedly focused on immigration, criticizing the Biden administration’s policies and asserting that undocumented immigrants were causing significant problems.
He claimed, “Bad immigration is the worst thing that can happen to our economy. They have and she has destroyed our country with policy.”
Harris defended her stance by highlighting the bipartisan Senate immigration deal that Trump had opposed, accusing him of preferring to “run on a problem instead of fixing a problem.”
5. The Ukraine Question
When the discussion turned to Ukraine, Harris defended the Biden administration’s support for the country against Russian aggression. She emphasized the importance of international alliances, stating, “It’s essential for the U.S. to stand with our allies and support Ukraine against unprovoked aggression. Our strength and leadership on the global stage are critical for maintaining stability.”
Trump, however, criticized the current U.S. policy on Ukraine, suggesting that resources should be redirected to domestic issues, saying, “We are spending enormous amounts of money in Ukraine while our own borders and infrastructure are crumbling. We need to focus on rebuilding America first and foremost.”
6. Taylor Swift’s Endorsement
Minutes after the debate concluded, pop star Taylor Swift made headlines by announcing her endorsement of Kamala Harris on Instagram.
Swift, a major cultural icon with a substantial following, wrote, “Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight. I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election. I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.”
The endorsement was accompanied by a photo of Swift with her pet cat, Benjamin Button, and a comment referencing her concerns about misinformation spread by AI, stating, “It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation.”
This move could provide a significant boost to Harris’s campaign, especially among younger voters. The timing of the endorsement surprised many, as Swift had previously waited until closer to the election to make such announcements.
Following the debate, Harris’s campaign has pushed for another debate before the November election, indicating confidence in their performance.
The outcome of this debate may influence the final weeks of the campaign as both candidates continue to address key voter concerns and clarify their platforms.
