WASHINGTON — Tuesday marks the first, and possibly only, presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump ahead of the November elections.
Harris's and Trump's campaigns negotiated with the network extensively on the rules for this debate and they are as follows.
Debate Rules:
- No live audience
- No opening statements
- Each candidate will have two minutes to answer the question
- Each candidate will have an additional minute for follow-ups, rebuttals and clarifications
- Each candidate will have two minutes to deliver closing statements
- Moderators are the only ones permitted to ask questions
- Candidates aren't allowed pre-written notes
- Candidates will not receive questions or topics ahead of the debate
- Mics will be muted when it is not their turn to talk
Now that the rules have been ironed out, it's time for the candidates to get in the ring and show the nation why they are the better pick for the coveted position of President of the United States.
During their dance in the ring both candidates discussed a myriad of topics that plague the nation, here are some of the top moments.
Topic: Economy and Cost of living in the country
Harris' Response: "I was raised as a middle class kid and I'm the only one on this stage that has a plan to raise the middle class. We know that we have a shortage of homes and housing and the cost of housing is too expensive for too many people. I intend to extend a tax cut for families of $6,000. My plan is to give a $50,000 tax deduction to start up small businesses knowing that they are the back bone of our economy."
Trump's Response: "I took in billions and billions of dollars from China, so much so that they never took the tariffs off. We've had a terrible economy because we have inflation like very few people have never seen before, probably the worst in our nation's history. We were at 21% but that being generous because many things are 50, 60, 70, 80% higher than they were a few years ago. On top of that we have millions of people pouring into our country from prisons, and jails, and mental institutions and they're coming in and they're taking jobs that are occupied by African Americans and Hispanics. I created the greatest economy in the history of our country and I'll do it again even better."
Topic: Abortion; Why should women voters trust you?
Trump's Response: "They [Biden Administration] have abortion in the 9 month, the previous governor of West Virginia he said 'the baby will be born and we will decide what to do with the baby' in other words we'll execute the baby! and that's I voted for the 6 week abortion law. Through the genius, heart and strength of six Supreme Court Justices we were able to get Roe V. Wade back into the states. Now, I believe in exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother, I believe strongly in it."
Harris' Response: "Donald Trump hand selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protection of Roe V. Wade. Now in over 20 states there are Trump abortion ban, which makes it criminal for a doctor or nurse to provide healthcare. Trump abortion ban does not make exception for rape or incest. One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held belief to agree that the government and Donald Trump certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with her body. I pledge to you that when Congress passes a bill to put back in place the protection of Roe V. Wade as President of the United States. If Donald Trump is reelected he will sign a national abortion ban into effect."
Trump's Rebuttal: "She said she'll go back to Congress, she'll never get the votes. It's impossible for her to get the votes especially with 50/50 in House and Senate, she's not going to get the votes. So it's just talk, you know what it reminds me of, when they said they're going to get student loans terminated and it ended up being a total catastrophe. It's the same way that they talked about loans for abortion"
Harris' Rebuttal: "Couples who hope and pray for a family are being denied IVF treatments. What you are putting women through is unconscionable."
Topic: Immigration and Border Security; why did the Biden administration wait six months before the election to act on border security issues?
Harris' Response: "United States Congress came up with a border security bill that I supported. That bill would have put more border patrol agents on the frontlines to assist. This bill would have had tighter regulations on the trafficking of guns, drugs, and human beings. Do you know what happened to that bill? Donald Trump got on the phone and had Congress kill the bill because he'd prefer to run on the problem instead of fixing a problem."
Trump's Response: "Our country is being lost, we're a failing nation and it happened 3.5 years ago. What they have done by allowing millions and millions of people to come into our country. Look at what's happening to the towns all over the United States and a lot of towns don't want to talk about it. In Springfield they're eating the dogs! The people that came in they're eating the cats, they're eating the pets. This is what's happening in our country and it's a shame. We'll end up being Venezuela on steroids."
Harris' Rebuttal: "This is why I actually have the endorsement of 200 Republicans"
Topic: Jan. 6 Insurrection; is there anything you regret about that day?
Trump's Response: "That group of people are being treated so badly. What about the people she's letting into this country, when are they going to be prosecuted? When are the people that burned down Minneapolis going to be prosecuted? I had nothing to do with that other than they asked me to make a speech and I showed up for a speech. It wasn't done by me, it was done by others. I wasn't responsible for security, Nancy Pelosi was responsible she didn't do her job."
Harris' Rebuttal: "I was at the Capitol on Jan 6. I was an acting senator. On that day the president of the United States incited a violent mob to attack our nation's Capitol. On that day 140 law enforcement officers were injured and some died. The former president has been indicted and impeached for that exact reason. For everyone watching and remembers what Jan. 6 was we don't have to go back."
Topic: Israel Hamas Conflict; how would you break through this to end the standoff?
Harris' Response: "On Oct. 7 Hamas a terrorist organization slaughtered 1,200 Israelis. I say then, I say now, Israel has a right to defend itself, we would, and how it does so matters because it is also true, far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. This war must end, it must end immediately, and the way it will end is we need a ceasefire deal and we need the hostages out. We must have a two state solution where we rebuild Gaza and the Palestinians have security and dignity they so rightly deserve."
Trump's Response: "If I was president it would have never started. If I was president, Russia would have never ever gotten into Ukraine. All of a sudden she hates Israel. She wouldn't even meet with Netanyahu when he went to Congress to make a very important speech cause she was at a sorority party. She hates Israel, if she's president I believe Israel will not exist within two years from now and I'm pretty good at predictions. The whole place is going to get blown up Arabs, Jewish people, Israel will be gone."
Harris' Rebuttal: "That's absolutely not true. He is trying to again divide and distract from the reality, which is that it is very well known that Donald Trump is weak and wrong on national security and foreign policy. It is well known that he admires dictators and wants to be a dictator on day one, according to himself. It is well known that he exchanged love letters with Kim Jong-Un."