Screengrab from Kamala Harris Twitter

Tuesday night was no ordinary evening in Philadelphia as Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump took to the debate stage, going head-to-head less than two months before Election Day. With polls showing Harris leading by just 1 point, the race is tight, and this debate marked their first face-to-face showdown in this election cycle.

The ABC-hosted debate kicked off with the economy, but quickly expanded into heated exchanges on immigration, democracy, abortion rights, and foreign policy. Both candidates delivered sharp jabs, making it clear that this presidential race is anything but business as usual.

Economy: Battle of the Tax Plans

Kamala Harris came out swinging on the economy, promoting her plan to boost middle-class families by expanding tax credits for small businesses. "I'm the only one on this stage who's putting middle-class Americans first," she confidently stated, emphasizing that her opponent's tax cuts benefit the wealthy.

Trump, meanwhile, highlighted his previous economic successes, though he veered into immigration talk when asked about economic policy. His major proposal? Cutting the corporate tax rate even further. "We had a great economy under me," Trump asserted, though he didn’t delve into specifics about how he plans to recreate it.

Immigration: A Point of Contention

Immigration quickly became a dominant theme, even when it wasn’t the direct focus of the moderators. Trump repeatedly bashed the current administration’s policies, claiming without evidence that immigrants are “taking over towns” and causing widespread chaos.

Harris fired back, pointing to Trump's role in killing a bipartisan bill that could have increased border security. The two were miles apart on solutions, with Harris pushing for comprehensive immigration reform and Trump sticking to his hardline approach.

Abortion: Sparks Fly

The debate reached a fever pitch when the topic of abortion rights came up. Trump defended his Supreme Court appointments, which led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. He made it clear he’s leaving abortion up to the states, but sparked controversy with his claim that Democrats support abortions “after birth”—a false statement he’s repeated before.

Harris passionately defended reproductive rights, reminding voters that no one, including Trump, should dictate what women can do with their bodies. She committed to signing legislation that would protect abortion rights nationwide if elected.

Democracy and Trump’s Legal Battles

Trump’s legal troubles weren’t off-limits during the debate. Harris, leveraging her experience as a prosecutor, painted Trump as a threat to democracy, referencing his conviction and the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection.

When Trump was asked if he acknowledged losing the 2020 election, he doubled down on his debunked claims of election fraud. Harris, clearly fed up, urged the country to “turn the page” and end the chaos surrounding Trump’s baseless assertions.

Foreign Policy: Israel, Hamas, and Ukraine

On the international front, Harris and Trump clashed on both the Israel-Hamas war and the conflict in Ukraine. Harris advocated for a ceasefire in the Middle East, emphasizing the need for diplomacy and continued U.S. support for Israel, while Trump suggested Harris’ leadership would jeopardize Israel’s future, a claim with no evidence to back it up.

As for Ukraine, Trump’s position was clear: stop the war, but without specifying what that would entail. Harris countered with a sharp rebuke, warning that a Trump presidency would lead to Russian dominance in Ukraine.