SPARRING ON THE ECONOMY
Within the debate’s opening minutes, Trump and Harris went to battle on one of many points that’s prime of thoughts for voters: The economic system.
Harris detailed the financial insurance policies she has rolled out in current weeks, which embrace a considerable tax credit score for small start-ups.
Trump centered his feedback on tariffs, saying he would defend the American economic system from unfair overseas competitors.
Whereas either side obtained their jabs in, Harris obtained to talk first on a subject the place she trails Trump by way of voter belief.
She appeared to pressure the previous president onto his again foot, and Trump basically performed defence on one in every of his strongest points.
“Look, we have had a horrible economic system, as a result of inflation, which is absolutely generally known as a rustic buster,” mentioned Trump.
“Individuals cannot exit and purchase cereal or bacon or eggs or the rest. The folks of our nation are completely dying with what they’ve carried out. They’ve destroyed the economic system,” he added.
Harris mentioned she believes within the “ambition, the aspirations, the goals of the American folks”, and that she has a plan to construct an “alternative economic system”.
“My opponent, however, his plan is to do what he has carried out earlier than, which is to offer a tax lower for billionaires and large companies,” she added.
A SCHISM ON ABORTION
The 2 candidates additionally engaged in a fractious debate about abortion, a problem the place polls present Harris has the higher hand.
Trump defended the US Supreme Courtroom’s 2022 ruling that ended constitutional safety for abortion and despatched the difficulty again to particular person states, arguing, incorrectly, that it was an end result desired by each Republicans and Democrats. Democrats have lengthy supported a constitutional proper to abortion.
“I did an amazing service in doing it. It took braveness to do it,” Trump mentioned.
Trump contended that some states permit infants to be aborted after delivery, a degree corrected by ABC Information moderator Linsey Davis.
Harris flashed some outrage at Trump’s assertion that abortion changing into a states-rights challenge was a well-liked consequence, referring to states which have handed restrictive bans.
“That is what folks wished?” Harris requested. “Individuals being denied care in an emergency room as a result of healthcare suppliers are being afraid of being hauled off to jail?”
Trump was requested whether or not he would veto a federal abortion ban if one had been handed by Congress. He insisted it will by no means occur, however refused to reply the query definitively.
