Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump squared off in Philadelphia for their first presidential debate on Sept. 10.

The event was hosted by ABC and garnered tens of millions of viewers who tuned in to watch as
the prospective candidates presented their platforms.

The moderators asked Harris the first question about the economy.

Harris laid out her plan for building what she has dubbed an “opportunity economy:” extending the child tax credit, providing tax deductions to small business owners and lowering housing costs.

Harris criticized Trump, claiming that he planned to implement a “Trump sales tax” of 20% through tariffs.

In his rebuttal, Trump clarified he had no sales tax and defended his tariff plan.

Trump critiqued the Biden-Harris administration for high inflation rates.

The moderators next asked Trump to clarify his stance on abortion, as he had flip-flopped in his support of Florida’s six-week abortion ban.

Trump asserted the bill had to be signed because Democrats support abortions even after a baby is born. Trump’s claims were fact checked by moderators, who revealed Trump was misconstruing comments by Ralph Northam, the former Governor of Virginia.

In a 2019 interview, Northam defended third trimester abortions.

Harris discussed the effects abortion bans have on victims of rape and incest. She posited access to abortion as an issue of individual freedom from government restrictions.

Trump claimed he would not enact a national ban, but when pressed by moderators if he would veto a national abortion ban he refused to answer.

When asked about immigration, Harris mentioned her time as a prosecutor, pointing out that she had prosecuted criminal organizations coming across the border.

She attacked Trump for killing the bipartisan border bill.

Harris mentioned Trump’s rallies, claiming her crowds are larger and that Trump’s audiences leave midway through his rallies.

Trump ignored the border bill, instead responding to Harris’ comments about his rallies.

Trump discussed rumors that Haitian immigrants are eating people’s pets in Springfield, Ohio. These claims have been denied by Springfield officials.

Trump’s claims have led to multiple bomb threats being made on Springfield public buildings.

When asked about his criminal trials, Trump repeated claims that the justice system is being weaponized against him by the Biden-Harris administration.

The debate turned to the Jan. 6 capitol riots, with Trump minimizing his involvement in inciting violence. Harris blamed Trump for the insurrection.

The moderators asked Trump if he accepted that he lost in 2020. Trump said he still believes he won and that his lawsuits were wrongly dismissed.

When asked about the withdrawal from Afghanistan that resulted in 13 U.S. soldiers dying, Harris blamed Trump’s agreement with the Taliban for the incident. Trump defended his agreement, alleging that Biden and Harris did not execute the deal properly.

Harris attacked Trump for previous comments on race. She highlighted the Central Park Five, a group of young men of color falsely accused of rape.

When they were accused, Trump took out a full-page newspaper ad calling for their execution.

Despite the true perpetrator confessing, Trump has not apologized to the Central Park Five. Instead, Trump falsely called them guilty in his response.

Trump was asked if he had a plan to replace Obamacare, one of his policy goals. He replied by saying he had “concepts of a plan.”

The candidates were then asked for their closing statements.

Harris positioned herself as a new generation of leadership. She discussed her experience as a prosecutor and elected official working for the people.
Trump asked why she had not done the things she proposed as vice president.

He called America a nation in decline, naming Biden and Harris the worst administration in history.

Republicans have claimed the moderators were biased, with some like Rep. Marjorie Greene spreading unfounded claims that ABC rigged the debate against Trump.

Democrats felt that Harris sounded presidential, and overall did better than Trump.

They believe many of Trump’s more outrageous claims will hurt him with undecided voters.