Wed Sep 11 09:43:56 UTC 2024: ## Harris and Trump Clash in Fiery First Debate, Fact Checkers Weigh In
The first televised debate of the 2024 presidential election saw Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump go head-to-head on Tuesday evening in Philadelphia. The candidates tackled a range of issues, including the economy, immigration, race, Israel, and Ukraine, aiming to sway undecided voters in key battleground states.
Newsweek’s Fact Check team has analyzed the candidates’ claims and attacks, revealing a mix of truth and falsehoods.
**Economy:**
* **Harris** claimed Trump’s economic policies would cost middle-class families $4,000 per year. This claim is based on a left-leaning think tank’s analysis of potential tariff increases, but other estimates suggest lower costs.
* **Trump** stated he left the U.S. with no inflation, which is inaccurate. Inflation rose to 1.4% at the start of the Biden administration after falling to near 0% under Trump.
* **Trump** falsely claimed inflation reached 21% under Biden. The peak was 9.1% in 2022.
* **Harris** stated Trump left the worst unemployment rate since the Great Depression. While unemployment peaked at 14.8% during the pandemic, it was 6.4% when Trump left office, making the claim misleading.
* **Trump** claimed he was the only president to receive hundreds of billions of dollars from China in tariffs. This is incorrect, as the cost of tariffs is borne by the importer.
**Immigration:**
* **Harris** accused Trump of encouraging Republicans to oppose a bipartisan border bill, though the debate devolved into other topics.
* **Trump** made unfounded claims about migrants eating pets, with no evidence to support his allegations.
* **Trump** stated that millions of people are entering the U.S. monthly, significantly exaggerating the figures.
* **Harris** accused Trump of wanting to “terminate the Constitution,” citing his statements regarding the 2020 election. While Trump initially made those comments, he later walked back his remarks.
**Other Issues:**
* **Trump** made false claims about abortion, suggesting that “execution after birth” is legal and that a governor supported it.
* **Harris** claimed that Trump’s abortion bans criminalized medical care, which is partially true. Multiple states have restricted abortion access, but the specific claim about a life sentence is unclear.
* **Trump** falsely stated he was given $400 million from his family, while evidence suggests a larger sum.
* **Trump** claimed Harris wouldn’t meet with Netanyahu. While she wasn’t in Washington D.C. for his speech, she did meet him later that week.
* **Trump** inaccurately claimed millions of Ukrainians have been killed. Estimates suggest the number is closer to 1 million.
The debate concluded with the candidates trading accusations and highlighting their contrasting stances on key issues. The Fact Check team will continue to analyze the candidates’ statements throughout the election season.
First Piper 