By: Kyle Chmielowski
Tuesday, September 10 marked the first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The debate aired on ABC News with David Muir and Linsey Davis moderating and was hosted by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
The debate provided Harris and Trump the first chance to meet in person to contrast their campaigns.
With only a month left until election day, polls show a tight presidential race. The debate offered a great chance for both candidates to animate their party base while making their case to undecided voters.
Leading up to the debate, what issues did the students at Wilbur Wright College want to see the candidates address and how did the candidates address those issues?
Photo Credit: WhiteHouse.gov
First-year student Ivan Mendes emphasized two issues he wanted to be addressed: Trump's stance on immigration and Harris’s stance on gun control. “I would hope that Trump is deporting murderers, rapists, and drug dealers rather than dreamers".
Mendes adds, "I would like to see how Kamala could possibly manage violence, but you know not make guns even harder to get than they already are, especially in Illinois".
Mendes expresses, "I feel guns, especially in my city, are necessary for self-defense and protecting yourself and your family. I don't want it to be a harder process to attain than it already is if she gets elected. So that's what I’d like to see".
Second-year student Yaneli Perez said she wanted the candidates to talk about providing access to more affordable healthcare and addressing the crisis in Gaza. “I want the candidates to talk about more affordable healthcare, if not, at least more affordable housing.”
She showed frustration regarding, Harris’s stance on Gaza, stating that having to spend money to start wars is not ok. She described choosing between the candidates as a “lose-lose" situation.
“With Trump’s track record, Harris might be a good candidate but it’s kind of the same thing to me, if I had to choose I’d probably vote socialist" Perez voiced.
In the debate, Trump and Harris addressed the issues that students were concerned about in a fierce debate that gave Vice President Harris and former President Trump a chance to introduce their plans to the American people.
Regarding the economy Harris touted the “opportunity economy” that she plans to build. She emphasized her hopes to make housing more affordable while criticizing her opponent for his willingness to cut taxes for billionaires and increase tariffs.
Trump responded by pointing to the record-high inflation of the Biden Administration and bragging about the economic conditions of the Trump administration.
On the issue of gun control, Harris refuted Trump’s argument that Harris wants to take away guns, with Harris and her running mate Tim Walz being both gun owners.
Photo Credit: White House.gov
Concerning immigration, Trump criticized Democrats for allowing a surge in migrants, suggesting that Democrats want to use those migrants for votes.
Trump caught a lot of attention by claiming immigrants in Springfield, Ohio were eating cats and dogs, an allegation that David Muir refuted on air as Harris watched stunned at the former president’s remarks.
On the War in Gaza, Harris said “It must end immediately. We need a ceasefire deal and we need the hostages out.” Harris condemned the October 7th attacks on Israel while urging for a two-state solution.
When Trump was asked, what he would do regarding the war in Gaza he said the war would have never started on his watch while he used the chance to suggest that Harris hates both Israel and Arabs.
In a debate where the candidates covered a wide range of topics, did they successfully convince the American people, specifically younger people like students here at Wright College? Did this debate change anyone’s mind or just confirm what people already believed? What do you think?
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