On Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024 Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump took to the debate stage in Philadelphia.

The debate was held on ABC with moderators Lindsay Davis and David Muir. This debate was the second Presidential debate of the 2024 race but the first debate with Harris and Trump since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July.

Three main topics of the debate were the economy, reproductive rights, and immigration/border control. The debate started with a forced handshake from Harris to reluctant Trump.

On the topic of the economy, Harris reiterated that she stands for working-class families and tax cuts. She was also clear that it was the Biden Administration who cleaned up the economy after Trump left it a disaster after Covid-19. 

Trump voiced that immigration is “ruining our country.” He accused President Biden of being responsible for the worst economy in the history of our country. 

Trump focused more on how immigration has affected the economy as Harris focused on building back the economy.

Abortion is the second main topic in this election. Trump started by saying that states allow abortion when the baby is carried to term or after they are born. Davis fact-checked and corrected him saying, “It is illegal to kill babies in any state after birth.” 

Trump gives credit to the Supreme Court justices for overturning Roe v. Wade and giving abortion back to the states, which Trump asserted, “Everyone wanted it turned back to the states.” Trump then again went back to the topic of immigration. 

Harris’ views are different and she wishes that the government would not tell women what to do with their bodies. She supports the protection of Roe v. Wade. Harris was also clear that abortion is killing more women due to miscarriages which women who bleed out because of them. 

With the current abortion bans, Trump says there are exceptions for rape and incest, but Harris disagrees that there are not. 

The last main issue is immigration. Harris has made her former prosecution career a vital part of her campaign. She expresses how she has prosecuted criminals who have crossed the border and smuggled guns, and drugs. She supported a bill for immigration but clarified that Trump “killed the bill,” even though the bill would have improved the issue.

During the entire debate, Trump made his views on immigration clear. Trump voiced his concern about the millions of migrants coming into the country every month. He said, “They are ruining this country.” 

One of the most memorable moments was when he claimed that the immigrants in Ohio, “Are eating the dogs, cats, and pets.” When fact-checked by Davis this statement was also disproved.

At the end of the debate, the candidates gave their closing remarks. Harris discussed her plans for the future of this country as Trump focused on asking why Harris did not act on any of these issues when she was in office for three and a half years. 

Many powerful voices have let people know where they stand. According to Forbes and Wikipedia, Beyoncé, the Obamas, and Lin Manuel Miranda have voiced their opinions in favor of Harris while Hulk Hogan, Elon Musk, and Ye have come out to stand with Trump. At the end of the debate, some could argue the most influential celebrity of the decade, Taylor Swift, told the country that she will be voting for Kamala Harris this fall. So after the debate, where do you stand?