Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris engaged in their first and possibly only debate, highlighting their starkly different views on the state of the nation. The debate saw a mix of old false and misleading claims along with some new ones. Trump overstated his economic record, claiming to have created one of the greatest economies in history, but the economy grew faster under other presidents like Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan. During Trump’s presidency, the economy shrank and there were fewer adults with jobs compared to the Clinton era. Harris claimed to have created over 800,000 manufacturing jobs, but the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on job numbers was not considered in her statement. Inflation rates under President Biden have seen a decrease from their peak in 2022.
Trump distanced himself from Project 2025, a controversial blueprint for another Republican presidential administration, despite claims made by Harris. He also made false statements about abortion policies, suggesting that Harris supports infanticide, which is illegal in every state. Additionally, Trump’s tax and spending plan, analyzed by the Penn-Wharton Budget Model, would significantly increase the deficit over ten years. Harris’ stance on fracking was also scrutinized, with Trump claiming she would end fracking in Pennsylvania, although it can only be banned on federal lands without congressional approval.
Trump’s claims about immigrants and crime were inflated, with wild figures of millions of people pouring into the country monthly and allegations that many of them are criminals. However, Border Patrol data showed a lower number of arrests, and there is no evidence to support the claim that noncitizens are being encouraged to vote illegally. Trump also falsely stated that crime is on the rise under the Biden administration, despite FBI data showing a decrease in violent crime rates in recent years. Furthermore, there is no evidence to support Trump’s claim that immigrants in Springfield were eating pets.
In response to Trump’s claims about job numbers and the 2020 election, Harris criticized him for spreading misinformation and false rumors. Trump falsely claimed that China is building auto plants in Mexico and that there is evidence showing he won the 2020 election, despite numerous reviews concluding that the election was fair. Putin’s endorsement of Harris was dismissed by intelligence officials as not serious, and Trump’s “bloodbath” comment was taken out of context by Harris. Additionally, Trump exaggerated the value of military equipment left in Afghanistan and misrepresented key facts of the Central Park Five case. Overall, the debate highlighted the ongoing battle of misinformation between the two political figures.
