The 2024 Presidential Debate, hosted by ABC and filmed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was definitely a night to remember. Aired on Tuesday, September 10th, this 90-minute program marked the second debate of the year, following the Biden-Trump debate earlier in the summer. After President Biden withdrew from the race, Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris stepped in to take his place and is currently running against the Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump.
Presidential debates offer a critical opportunity for candidates to meet face-to-face and present their visions for the future of the United States. Each party needs to select a candidate that most aligns with their values and is equipped with ideas that can improve already existing issues that citizens are facing in the United States as well as foreign relations and economic growth.
During the first ever televised Presidential debate back in 1960, John F. Kennedy (D) and Richard Nixon (R) had 8 minutes to make their opening statements and 3 minutes to say their closing statement, without a timer during the general debate. This year’s debate adhered to stricter time limits. Each participant was given 2 minutes to answer the question addressed to them, and 1 minute to clarify, respond, or refute a claim made by the other participant. Moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis made the rules clear from the very beginning: there would be no audience, no questions were shared with participants, and microphones would only be allowed during their allotted time to speak.
The event started with a question directed towards Harris regarding an issue that voters have constantly said has been their number one concern: When it comes to the economy, do you believe Americans are better off than they were 4 years ago? Throughout the night, questions ranging from topics like abortion to immigration were brought up, and each candidate did their best to answer them.
One notable fact, though, is that both Harris and Trump said their fair share of false information during the debate. One of the most popular that has spread across the internet is Trump’s incorrect assertion that immigrants in Springfield, Ohio have been eating dogs and cats. Local authorities later stated that there was no proof of such events. Harris also falsely claimed that “Donald Trump left us with the worst unemployment rate since the Great Depression.” When Biden and Harris entered office in January of 2021, the unemployment rate was at 6.4%.
With this much untrue information told during the debate, there are many uncertainties amongst the American public as to what the future holds. It is clear that to make an educated decision on who to vote for, doing your own research using reliable sources is the key. This will help not only paint a better picture of each candidate but also understand each of their stances on certain issues that may be important to you. As the future generation of this country, it is important more than ever to keep ourselves informed on the state of our nation, and how we can currently get involved.
