Our favourite takeaways from the Trump v Harris debate. We can’t fact check them all but we’re pretty sure Biden thinks he is alive…
With the first (and possibly only) debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump finally over, the most unhinged moments came in the form of questioning if Biden knows he is still alive, suggesting immigrants in Ohio were eating people’s pets, and a painful reminder that Trump was fired by 81 million Americans.
Here are our five favourite unhinged moments.
Unhinged moment 1: Trump’s pet conspiracy theory
“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of people who live there.”
Trump’s claim that people are eating pets in Ohio can not be confirmed, but there is currently no evidence or meaningful allegations by local authorities in Springfield, Ohio that immigrants are eating pets. Your good doggo is safe (from Immigrants at least).
Unhinged moment 2: Kamala claiming Trump’s rallies end early due to boredom
“You will also notice that people start leaving his rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom.”
Trump’s rallies generally draw large passionate crowds and he never fails to make sure we’re all aware of it.
To date there is not much evidence that these crowds leave early due to boredom but the comment aligns rhetorically with her earlier observation that “Trump was fired by 81 million people.”
Unhinged moment 3: Trump said Kamala Harris only recently “turned black”
“All I can say is I read where she was not black.”
Kamala Harris has always publicly identified as a person of colour. She has both an Indian and Jamaican background. Trump is factually incorrect. Speculation about her racial identity plays to racial tensions and mirrors the “birther” theories Trump promoted about Barack Obama.
Also on The Big Smoke
Unhinged moment 4: Trump suggested Biden doesn’t even know if he is still alive
“We have a president that doesn’t know he’s alive.”
This statement contributed to the hyperbole around Biden’s cognitive abilities and mental state. The Big Smoke can’t fact check this but we are pretty sure Biden thinks he is alive…
Unhinged moment 5: Trump said “I probably took a bullet for what I said”
Quote: “I probably took a bullet to the head for what I said.”
Fair…Trump “probably” took a bullet (kinda) as part of the backlash faced for his presidency and previous statements.
Bonus unhinged moment 6: The moment when it felt like high school and you were being told that your friends are laughing at you behind your back
When Harris said that military leaders who have worked with Trump are mocking him, you saw Trump die on the inside just a bit.
Five important moments to be aware of:
- Kamala Harris asserted herself with a strong handshake and a reminder that she is “not Joe Biden” which aligns with her campaign message of “unburdened by what has been” rhetoric, yet Trump reminded her that she has been underwhelming in her role as Vice President.
- Trump focused on corporate tax cuts for billionaires while Harris focused on championing the middle class and small business.
- Race was the underlying note by calling out Trump’s narratives as divisive and harmful and perpetuating the recent narrative that Harris shifts her tone based on who her audience is.
- Harris positioned her career as a prosecutor as a reminder that she has been working for Americans historically in her career to support her pledge that she will be putting Americans first.
- Trump positioned the Biden administration as so weak that it resulted in two key wars, while Harris focused on the fact that Trumps biggest admirers are really just dictators who can manipulate him with flattery.
Five key positions during the debate:
Crime rates: Trump said “We have a nation that is dying,” claiming that the FBI is issuing “defrauding statements” around crime statistics when told by moderators that crime rates are down. Harris reminded Trump that he has been prosecuted for national security crimes, economic crimes and election interference.
Abortion: Trump focused on the fact that he appointed the judges who overturned Roe vs Wade, and made the claim that some states allow abortions after a baby is born. Harris focuses on the impact of Trump’s abortion policies on women’s health, human rights and the denial of care after miscarriages, as well as the risk of all pregnancy-related medical matters being tracked.
Also on The Big Smoke
Economic vision: Trump discussed China again (we love listening to him pronounce China) and his pushback against them, focusing on tax cuts for businesses and claiming that the Biden administration have weakened American industries and that he has a vision for bringing jobs back to the USA. Harris focused on investing in working families and small business as she “grew up a middle class kid”.
Healthcare: Trump had a vague idea for healthcare defending the repeal of the Affordable Care act, but not much more than “concepts for now,” saying Obamacare should be repealed only if there was a better framework to replace it. Harris raised the Biden administration’s progress when it came to the Affordable Care act allowing Medicare to negotiate on drug prices for the first time.
War: Trump said that Russia would never have invaded Ukraine if he was still in power and that Israel would not exist in two years if Harris was made President – and that she failed to meet with Netanyahu because she wanted to go to a Sorority party. Harris highlighted Trump’s relationship with dictators such as Putin and Kim Jong-un, and said “These dictators and autocrats are rooting for you to be President again because they can manipulate you with flattery.”
