By Paige Gould
Staff Writer
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump faced off during the 2024 presidential debate on Sept. 10, engaging in discussions on issues like abortion, immigration, climate change and more.
When given a chance to describe their first impressions of the 2024 presidential debate, students expressed varying viewpoints. John Rendzia, a sophomore political science major and chairman of the TCNJ College Republicans, criticized Harris' debate skills against a Republican and said, “Trump’s adaptability is praise-worthy.”
Aria Chalileh and Jared Williams are both senior political science majors and co-presidents of the TCNJ Democrats. When asked about their first impressions on the presidential debate, they noted that they were excited to see a high student turnout during the club’s debate watch party.
“This debate is very good for Harris who is speaking to policy, which matters to people: fantastic debate so far,” Williams said.
The Schools of the Arts and Communications and Humanities and Social Sciences also hosted a watch party in the Kendall Hall black box theater, where attendees had a chance to learn about productive civil discourse.
The first issue mentioned was the economy. According to Al Jazeera, Harris highlighted her pledge to generate an “opportunity economy,” proposing a $6,000 child tax credit and giving a $50,000 tax deduction to small businesses.
Al Jazeera also reported that Trump replied that inflation is a “disaster” with inflation hovering at 3%. Trump also mentioned his plan on imposing high tariffs to encourage U.S.-based manufacturing.
Abortion was the second issue debated on Tuesday night. According to NPR, Trump falsely claimed Harris supported late-term abortion bans, while Harris emphasized the importance of bodily autonomy.
Chalileh said she found Harris “inspiring,” especially when Harris articulated that she does not want the government to have control over women’s bodies.
Trump also stated that the overturning of Roe v Wade allowed for states to decide on abortion policy, and said that there was “no reason to sign a [national abortion] ban,” according to NPR.
On the topic of abortion, Rendzia said, “I’m a man. [Abortion is] not my biggest concern. Rendzia later followed up on this statement by saying, “for what it is worth though, Donald Trump proposed the best solution by returning this issue to the states, and to the people.”
On immigration, Trump falsely claimed that immigrants were eating pets and discussed his plan to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants. He added that he would deploy local law enforcement to aid in his deportation plan. Harris, on the other hand, discussed her support of a border security bill that was struck down by Republicans earlier this year.
Williams praised Harris' efforts to address bipartisan immigration reform, while Rendzia acknowledged Trump’s solid answers but criticized the focus on the dog story.
Another focus of the debate was on Harris’ stance on fracking. The New York Times reported that, in 2019, Harris wanted to ban fracking, but she now says she supports fracking because her experience in the Biden administration demonstrated that clean energy expansion is feasible without prohibiting fracking.
On the topic of environmental policies, Williams said, “Harris brought up a bill for [fracking] and voted on it. When she needed to be the tie–breaker, she casted the vote that ‘increases leases for fracking as Vice President.’”
Williams also expressed approval of Harris' consistent values, commenting, “I’m happy to hear her values haven't changed. Harris brought up points supporting her advocacy of the global climate crisis.”
The Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol was another significant issue. Trump denied involvement in the events that happened on Jan. 6, insisting that all he did was show up for a speech. Meanwhile, Harris pledged to “turn a page.”.
Chalileh expressed relief that the event was addressed but also voiced concerns about the potential for similar occurrences, saying, “I’m very happy it was addressed — it’s a real fear of mine — and many others — that January 6th could happen again. It’s disappointing that we have to think about these possibilities, but it is incredibly important that we prioritize the safety of Americans at all costs.”
In discussions about the war in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, Harris defended Israel’s right to self-defense. She pushed for a hostage deal with Hamas, according to Al Jazeera. Trump countered by accusing Harris of having a “bias against Israel,” and claimed that the war in Gaza would not have occurred if he were in office.
Chalileh and Williams agreed that this is a sensitive issue for both sides. Israelis and Palestinians are dying, and Harris called for a ceasefire and hostage release.
Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump said, “this is a war that’s dying to be settled” and he promised to negotiate an end to the war with Ukraine and Russia according to Politico. Politico also reported that Harris countered by saying, “If Donald Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now.”
Williams said, “She emphasized the unjust war, contrasting sharply with Trump. Supporting Ukraine is a key foreign policy issue, and she’s showing strong leadership by opposing Putin and sending a message to China regarding Taiwan.”
Discussing U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Rendzia noted that voters, the people he talked to, “are increasingly concerned with cutting financial aid regardless of which side wins the war.”
The debate also discussed race and Trump’s previous comments questioning Harris’ race. During the debate, Trump said that she could "be whatever she wants to be,” according to AP News. Harris, in turn, accused Trump of using race to divide Americans.
Chalileh said, “She addressed the personal attacks, rejecting the use of race to divide voters, emphasizing unity and her capability beyond belittlement.”
On healthcare, Trump called the Affordable Care Act "lousy" and claimed Harris opposed private insurance. Trump also said that he had “concepts of a plan” as a replacement for the ACA. Harris defended the ACA, maintaining her stance to expand the ACA and negotiate prescription drug prices.
Chalileh said, “Trump dismisses Obamacare and categorizes it as useless, while Harris shares stories of how it has helped millions. Harris emphasized the importance of healthcare options for all, showcasing her values.”
Williams said, “It’s surprising a former president would spread conspiracy theories of this nature. Harris delivered the best debate performance I've ever seen, presenting a clear vision and rejecting Trump's policies. She rose to the occasion under pressure and performed phenomenally, showing she’ll excel in November despite challenges.”
Rendzia critiqued the debate format, suggesting that the limited timeframe led to rushed and rehearsed responses from both Trump and Harris. He said, “there could have been a stronger appeal from both sides. Time is a big thing in everything. The limited timeframe of this debate prevented an organic flow of responses.”
Chalileh said, “Trump's demeanor was not surprising, but Harris had a fantastic debate, highlighting her true strength and leadership. Her performance highlighted a clear contrast between the candidates. In this election, high voter turnout — especially amongst young adults — are crucial, as the acknowledgement of our values are at stake. It is vital to vote and keep pushing for change.”
John Johansen, a freshman finance major, said, “Kamala Harris’ policies are similar to President Biden’s and she didn't address past failures. I respect Trump for standing by his policies and keeping his word.”
