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PHILADELPHIA — In a highly anticipated debate that covered healthcare, climate change, race, and the 2020 election, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump clashed in a fiery exchange that left no doubt about their contrasting visions for the country’s future. But who won last night’s debate?
Harris, calm and focused on policy, made a case for unity and forward-looking solutions, which made her look stronger. Meanwhile, Trump leaned heavily on past grievances, frequently being fact-checked by moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis for inaccurate claims, which made him appear weaker among undecided voters.
Trump Doubles Down on False Election Claims, Muir Intervenes with Fact-Check
A particularly revealing moment occurred when Trump was asked if he now acknowledges that he lost the 2020 election. Trump, defiant as ever, responded, “No, I don’t acknowledge that at all.” He went on to say, “Look, there’s so much proof. All you have to do is look at it. And they should have sent it back to the legislatures for approval. I got almost 75 million votes. The most votes any sitting president has ever gotten.”
David Muir was quick to intervene, noting, “You and your allies, 60 cases in front of many judges. Many of them — ” before Trump interrupted, “No judge looked at it.” Muir corrected him, stating, “And said there was no widespread fraud.” Muir’s factual pushback emphasized that courts have repeatedly debunked Trump’s claims about the 2020 election, yet Trump continues to spread them.
In response to Trump’s refusal to concede the 2020 election, Harris hit back. “Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people. So, let’s be clear about that. And clearly, he is having a very difficult time processing that,” she said, underscoring her point that Trump’s inability to move on from his defeat is a threat to democracy. Harris also mentioned Trump’s legal woes, saying, “This is someone who has been prosecuted for national security crimes, economic crimes, election interference, has been found liable for sexual assault, and his next big court appearance is in November at his own criminal sentencing.”
False Claims About Dog-Eating in Springfield
At one point, Trump made a bizarre and unfounded claim about the immigrant community in Springfield, Ohio. He said, “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating — they’re eating the pets of the people that live there.” Moderator David Muir, in an effort to fact-check, mentioned that the Springfield city manager had told ABC News that “there have been no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.”
Trump dismissed the city manager’s statement, saying, “Well, I’ve seen people on television. The people on television say my dog was taken and used for food.” The false and inflammatory nature of these claims further showcased Trump’s tendency to veer away from the facts, which undermined his credibility throughout the debate.
Trump Distances Himself from Project 2025 and Dodges on Abortion
When pressed about Project 2025, a Republican plan that includes a national abortion ban, Trump distanced himself from it, claiming, “I have nothing to do with Project 2025. That’s out there. I haven’t read it. I don’t want to read it, purposely. I’m not going to read it.” His attempt to distance himself from the plan raised questions about his stance on abortion, especially when juxtaposed with his previous proud claim of overturning Roe v. Wade.
Harris, meanwhile, seized the moment to criticize Trump’s position on abortion, citing his administration’s role in criminalizing abortion in several states without exceptions for rape and incest. “Trump abortion bans make it criminal for a doctor or nurse to provide health care,” Harris said, referencing the extreme restrictions put in place since the fall of Roe v. Wade. “A survivor of a crime, a violation to their body, does not have the right to make a decision about what happens to their body next. That is immoral.”
While Trump attempted to deflect, Harris reiterated that women’s reproductive rights would be a focal point of her administration, with a commitment to reinstating the protections of Roe v. Wade.
Harris Highlights Healthcare Wins, Trump Struggles with Lack of Clear ACA Alternative
Trump, on the defensive for much of the night, also struggled to provide specific plans for healthcare reform. Harris, referencing her time as vice president, highlighted the Biden administration’s accomplishments. “When Donald Trump was president, 60 times he tried to get rid of the Affordable Care Act,” she said. She pointed to her administration’s success in capping insulin prices at $35 a month and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. “Since I’ve been vice president, we have capped the cost of prescription medication for seniors at $2,000 a year. And when I am president, we will do that for all people,” Harris promised.
Trump, who had campaigned on repealing and replacing the ACA, offered little in terms of concrete alternatives. “Obamacare was lousy healthcare. Always was,” he said, but when asked if he had a replacement plan, he admitted, “I have concepts of a plan. I’m not president right now. But if we come up with something I would only change it if we come up with something better and less expensive.”
Harris capitalized on Trump’s vague promises, reminding the audience of the late Senator John McCain’s pivotal vote to save the ACA. “The late great John McCain, who you have disparaged as being – uh, you don’t like him, you said at the time because he got caught, he wasn’t an American hero. The late great John McCain, I will never forget that night. Walked onto the Senate floor and said, ‘No, you don’t.’ No, you don’t get rid of the Affordable Care Act.”
Harris Calls for Climate Solutions, Trump Stays Silent on Environmental Strategy
The debate shifted to climate change, where Harris framed the issue as an existential threat, once again contrasting her stance with Trump’s past dismissals. “The former president had said that climate change is a hoax,” Harris noted. “And what we know is that it is very real.” She highlighted her administration’s investment in a clean energy economy: “We have invested a trillion dollars in a clean energy economy while we have also increased domestic gas production to historic levels.”
Trump, on the other hand, focused on manufacturing job losses and outsourcing, rather than addressing the climate crisis itself. “They’re building big auto plants in Mexico,” Trump claimed, blaming the Biden administration for job losses in the U.S. Yet, he failed to present a comprehensive strategy to tackle climate change, leaving a gap in his argument that may not sit well with younger voters concerned about environmental issues.
Harris Condemns Trump’s Racial Divisiveness After Remarks on Her Identity
A key moment happened when Trump was challenged by moderator Linsey Davis about his comments questioning Harris’s racial identity. “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black,” Trump had previously said. Pressed on this by Davis, Trump responded, “I don’t care what she is. Whatever she wants to be is okay with me.”
Harris used this moment to criticize Trump’s history of racial division. “It’s a tragedy that we have someone who wants to be president who has consistently over the course of his career attempted to use race to divide the American people,” she said. Harris pointed to Trump’s role in the birther conspiracy targeting President Obama. She also underscored Trump’s call for the execution of the Central Park Five, framing Trump’s rhetoric as dangerous and divisive.
Who Won Last Night’s Debate? Harris Leads with Vision and Detail, Trump Falters Under Scrutiny and Fact-Checks
Throughout the debate, Harris’s emphasis on unity, detailed policy proposals, and forward-looking vision stood in stark contrast to Trump’s grievance-filled rhetoric and evasions. During the debates, Trump frequently faced fact-checking from the moderators, which weakened his arguments. His refusal to offer clear plans, particularly on healthcare and climate change, left him on the defensive. Meanwhile, Harris’s command of the issues allowed her to dominate the debate.
Ultimately, Harris emerged as the stronger candidate, offering voters a clear and optimistic vision for the future. Her performance highlighted her readiness to lead.
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