Debating the issues
The Debate
Trump and Harris sparred from the start of their presidential debate
Where do they stand on these issues?
Abortion
Democracy
Immigration
NATO and Ukraine
Abortion
Trump often brags about appointing the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade
Former President Donald Trump says decisions on access to abortions and cutoffs limiting when the procedure can be performed should be left to the states.
Abortion
Harris is the Democrats' most visible champion of abortion rights
Vice President Kamala Harris has called on Congress to pass legislation guaranteeing in federal law abortion access, a right that stood for nearly 50 years before being overturned by the Supreme Court.
Abortion
“The government, and Donald Trump certainly, should not be telling a woman what to do with her body.”
— Vice President Kamala Harris,
during the presidential debate
Democracy and rule of law
Trump refuses to accept his 2020 loss to Biden, hasn't committed to accepting 2024 results
Trump has repeatedly promised to pardon the Jan. 6 defendants. He has vowed to overhaul the Justice Department and FBI “from the ground up.” He has also vowed to appoint a special prosecutor to go after Biden.
Democracy and rule of law
Harris has decried Trump as a threat to the nation's democracy
Harris has leaned heavily into her personal background as a prosecutor and contrasted that with Trump being found guilty of 34 felony counts in a New York hush money case and in being found liable for fraudulent business practices and sexual abuse in civil court.
Democracy and rule of law
“I had nothing to do with that other than they asked me to make a speech. I showed up for a speech.”
— Former President Donald Trump,
during the presidential debate
Immigration
Harris endorses comprehensive immigration reform
President Joe Biden made Harris his administration’s point person on the root causes of migration. Trump now blames Harris for a situation at the U.S.-Mexico border. Harris has countered that Trump worsened the situation by killing a bipartisan Senate compromise.
Immigration
Trump promises to mount the largest domestic deportation in U.S. history
Trump says he will revive the travel ban that originally targeted citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries. He will seek to end birthright citizenship for people born in the U.S. whose parents are in the country illegally.
Immigration
“[Immigrants] are taking over the towns. They're taking over buildings. They're going in violently. These are the people that she and Biden let into our country. And they're destroying our country.”
— Former President Donald Trump,
during the presidential debate
NATO and Ukraine
Harris praises Biden's efforts to rebuild alliances unraveled by Trump, particularly NATO
The Biden administration has pledged unceasing support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. The administration has maintained that U.S. assistance is critical because Russian President Vladimir Putin will not stop at invading Ukraine.
NATO and Ukraine
Trump has repeatedly taken issue with U.S. aid to Ukraine
Trump has assailed NATO member nations for failing to hit military spending targets. He said this year, he would not only refuse to defend nations that don’t hit those targets, but “would encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to countries that are “delinquent.”
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Source: AP