While many on campus and around the state of Louisiana braced for Hurricane Francine, the rest of the country braced for the debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump held on Sept. 10.
During her first presidential debate, Harris defended her views on abortion, immigration, taxes and the economy, the environment, and foreign policy. Former President Trump defended his views as well.
One of the most memorable discussions of the debate was on immigration and border security. During this portion, Harris expressed what she has done to maintain border security and said that the former president did the contrary. She expressed that she has “prosecuted transnational criminal organizations for the trafficking of guns, drugs, and humans.”
When it was Trump’s turn to discuss his plan for the mass deportation plan of 11 million undocumented Americans with the help of the National Guard and local police across the nation, he instead spent his time blaming the Biden administration for the amount of immigrants entering the United States.
Many of the statements the former president made regarding immigration were harmful and false. Some of them include “They [the immigrants] are eating the dogs, they’re eating the cats, they’re eating…the pets of the people next door.”
When discussing foreign policy, the two candidates went head-to-head regarding foreign relations and the strength of their own party’s platforms. Harris said about the war in Israel and Palestine, “I said then, I say now, Israel has a right to defend itself. We would.” Moreover, she said “far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Children, mothers…this war must end.” She further elaborates that “ we must chart a course for a two-state solution. And in that solution, there must be security for the Israeli people and Israel and in equal measure for the Palestinians.” This was a monumental statement made by her especially with pressure from pro-Palestinian activists across the United States asking when and if she would call for a ceasefire.
Trump took a different approach. When asked if he would negotiate with Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas regarding the release of hostages and preventing the killing of more innocent Palestinians, he said “If I were president it would have never started.”
When asked if he had a plan regarding healthcare and making it better, he said, “I have a concept of a plan… but if we come up with something I would only change it if we come up with something better and less expensive.”
When asked about her healthcare plan, Harris shared that she wants to maintain and grow the Affordable Care Act. She proved her commitment by sharing that since she was vice president, they capped the cost of insulin to $35 and the cost of prescription of medication for seniors at $2,000 a year.
She said, “When I am president, we will do that for all people, understanding that the value I bring to this is that access to health care should be a right and not just a privilege of those who can afford it.”
To start the portion regarding abortions, the Trump made statements saying that women are having abortions in the ninth month of their pregnancies. After this statement, the moderators immediately fact checked him regarding the inaccuracy of the comment. He expressed that he does believe in the exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother. He further strengthened this statement by saying “I believe strongly in it.”
Harris shared a difficult approach to abortion rights; she vowed that “when Congress passes a bill to put back in place the protections of Roe v. Wade as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.” When asked, Trump never disclosed whether or not he would veto a national abortion ban.
All in all, the debate proved to Americans the thought process of both candidates. Former President Trump is said to have lost the debate due to poor planning and rebuttals. Vice President Harris spoke on the plans she has for the country if she gets into office and although she did have moments where she was challenged, she effectively redirected and answered the questions.
