The first US presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump was a heated affair, filled with accusations and fiery rhetoric. As the two candidates sparred, a flurry of claims were made, prompting a wave of fact-checking from media houses across the country. Here, we take a closer look at ten of the most significant claims made during the debate and analyze their veracity.
**Claim 1: Kamala Harris claimed Donald Trump left office with the “worst unemployment since the Great Depression.”
Fact-Check:
This claim is false. While unemployment spiked to its highest levels since the Great Depression during the 2020 pandemic recession, it was 6.4% in January 2021 when Trump left office. The highest unemployment rate during Trump’s presidency was 14.8% in April 2020, a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.**Claim 2: Donald Trump alleged that Haitian immigrants were eating local people’s pet cats and dogs in Ohio.
Fact-Check:
This claim is false. During the debate, the moderator corrected Trump, stating that authorities had denied such occurrences. A spokesperson for the city of Springfield, Ohio, confirmed that there were no credible reports of pets being harmed by members of the immigrant community.**Claim 3: Donald Trump alleged that Harris’s vice-presidential pick, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, “says abortion in the ninth month is absolutely fine.” He further claimed that some states allow people to execute babies.
Fact-Check:
This claim is false. No state in the US allows for the execution of a baby after birth. Infanticide is illegal in every US state. Trump was also mistaken about the source of his claim. It wasn’t the former West Virginia governor, but the former Governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, who made a controversial remark in 2019 that many Republicans interpreted as supporting infanticide.**Claim 4: Donald Trump labelled Kamala Harris a “Marxist.”
Fact-Check:
This claim is false. Experts on Communism and Marxism have stated that Kamala Harris’s political positions do not align with Marxist ideologies. Harris supports private home and business ownership, a key tenet that contradicts Marxist principles.**Claim 5: Kamala Harris stated that she and her running mate, Tim Walz, are gun owners.
Fact-Check:
This claim is true. Harris owns a handgun, according to her aide. She previously stated that she owns a gun for personal safety, as a former prosecutor.**Claim 6: Kamala Harris claimed that the US Supreme Court recently ruled that Trump “would essentially be immune from any misconduct if he were to enter the White House again.”
Fact-Check:
This claim needs context. While the US Supreme Court ruled in July that Trump cannot be prosecuted for “official actions” taken as president, they clarified that he can be prosecuted for private acts. This landmark ruling established a form of presidential immunity from prosecution, but it is not absolute.**Claim 7: Donald Trump claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed Harris last week.
Fact-Check:
This claim is misleading. Reports on Putin’s stance are contradictory. In September, Putin stated that he supported Harris. However, US intelligence agencies believe that Putin actually favors Trump’s re-election.**Claim 8: Donald Trump claimed that “21 million people” are “pouring into our country monthly” under President Biden’s rule.
Fact-Check:
This claim is false. The total number of encounters at the US border from February 2021 to July 2024 was approximately 10 million. It’s important to note that an “encounter” does not guarantee entry into the country.**Claim 9: Kamala Harris claimed that Donald Trump wants a “20% tax on everyday goods” that would cost middle-class families “about $4,000 more a year.” She called it “Trump sales tax.”
Fact-Check:
This claim is true, but needs context. Trump has proposed a universal tariff of 10-20% on all US imports, including cars, electronics, wine, food, and other goods. He also proposes a 60% tariff on Chinese imports. While this policy could impact middle-class families, the exact financial impact is hard to predict. Importantly, Trump hasn’t advocated for tax hikes on American families.**Claim 10: Kamala Harris stated, “If Donald Trump were to be reelected, he will sign a national abortion ban.” She added, “Understand, in his Project 2025 there would be a national abortion ban …– a monitor that would be monitoring your pregnancies, your miscarriages.”
Fact-Check:
This claim is false and misleading. Trump has denied any association with Project 2025. During the debate, he said he would not sign a national abortion ban and would leave the issue to the states.The US presidential debate provided a platform for both candidates to outline their positions and policies. It also highlighted the importance of fact-checking in a time when misinformation can easily spread. It’s crucial for voters to critically evaluate the claims made during the debate and consult reliable sources to make informed decisions in the upcoming election.
