The presidential debate was a 90 minute debate held on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center hosted by ABC News moderators: David Muir and Linsey Davis. A debate between former U.S. President Donald J. Trump and current U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. As election day draws closer, the debate gives the two candidates the opportunity to provide further details on their campaigns and promises.
Both sides agreed to not use pre-written notes, ask questions of each other and share questions in advance. The two candidates had two minutes to answer questions, two minutes for rebuttals and one minute for clarifications or responses. The following are statements made during the debate followed by clarification.
- Haitian immigrants are eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.
“In Springfield (Ohio), they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” said Trump.
As of 2023, 20,000 Haitian immigrants have migrated to Springfield, Ohio, but the city has yet to receive a report of pets being stolen and eaten. In a graphic YouTube video titled “Haitian Woman Eats Neighbor’s Cat in Springfield,” a police officer is shown confronting an alleged Haitian woman for eating a cat. However, the Haitian woman in question, Allexis Ferrel, is a U.S. citizen and has no connection to being Haitian. The incident took place in Canton, Ohio, around 200 miles from Springfield, Ohio. Therefore, this statement can be deemed as false with no certain correlation suggesting otherwise.
2. 21 million immigrants came into the U.S.
“Millions and millions of people…are pouring into our country monthly. Where it’s, I believe 21 million people,” said Trump.
This claim is also deemed to be false. The real number is said to be around 11.6 million immigrants illegally crossing the U.S. border during Joe Biden’s term. Although there have been 10 million reported illegal immigrants crossing the U.S. border, not everyone is let into the country. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimated around 4 million immigrants were removed. Only around 3.8 million entered the U.S. to await immigration court hearings.
3. Trump has the highest unemployment rate
“Trump left us (with) the worst unemployment since the Great Depression,” said Harris.
After further investigation this statement can be seen as false. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRB St. Louis) notes that the unemployment rate during the Great Depression peaked at 25%. According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the unemployment rate during Trump’s presidency peaked at 14.8% in April, 2020. By the end of Trump’s presidency in January, 2021, the unemployment rate fell to 6.4%. Thus, this information can confirm former President Trump indeed did not have the highest unemployment rate.
4. Trump is a supporter of Project 2025
“He and his extreme Project 2025 agenda will weaken the middle class,” said Harris
This statement is regarded to be mostly false. Project 2025 is a conservative blueprint for the next Republican White House under Kevin Roberts, a Republican and president of The Heritage Foundation – a conservative political think tank. Trump has stated that he knows nothing about Project 2025 and has no idea who is in charge of it. The Trump campaign did not respond to questions about which Project 2025 proposals Trump opposes. However, Cable News Network (CNN) has identified roughly around 140 former advisors from the Trump administration who have been involved with Project 2025. With this, there is no clear proof that Trump himself supports Project 2025.
Regardless of whatever a candidate says, you are able to vote for whomever you want. However, it is important that not just students, but people, are not easily swayed by what they hear. As citizens, we have the right to do the necessary research and make our own decisions about who and what to vote for.
