If You Give a Fascist a Mic: A Recap of Harris v. Trump Debate
Last night, Americans across their country sat in front of their screens to watch the first presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The first 2024 presidential debate was not just a clash of personalities or policy positions—it was a clear demonstration of what happens when a dangerous individual is given a platform. Throughout the debate, Trump made no attempt to disguise his authoritarian tendencies, repeatedly showcasing behaviors and rhetoric rooted in fascism. From his constant finger-pointing to his hateful rhetoric against immigrants, the night was a chilling reminder of the stakes in this election.
Trump’s fascist leanings were evident from the moment he stepped onto the stage. One of the most glaring examples was his continued vilification of immigrants. Trump decided to spend his first few minutes during the debate framing immigration not as a complex policy issue, but as an existential threat to the American way of life, continuing the same anti-immigrant rhetoric that has become a hallmark of his political career. He called immigrants "common street criminals" and said, “they (immigrants) have and she (Harris) has destroyed our country”.
This scapegoating is a classic fascist tactic, blaming vulnerable communities for societal problems in order to rally a nationalist base. According to data from the Pew Research Center, immigrants—both legal and undocumented—contribute approximately $2 trillion to the U.S. GDP annually. Yet, Trump continues to depict immigrants as a drain on the nation, fostering fear and resentment without acknowledging their economic contributions or the humanitarian aspect of their plight.
Harris seemed confident and strategic on the debate stage, calling out Donald Trump’s failed policies stating to the American public: “Donald Trump has no plan for you”. Harris brought up how Trump’s economic policies ended in one of the nation’s biggest trade deficits, how he sold chips to China in order to up their military intelligence and ultimately “selling us out to China”, and how government leaders and scholars from around the world agree that Trump’s policies are unsustainable and would lead to a recession. Trump’s response, playing the blame game. Whether it be immigrants, the Biden administration, the covid-19 pandemic, or Kamala individually, Trump blamed everyone else but himself for the outcomes of his policies, and he blatantly lied while doing it too.
Trump stated he handled the Covid-19 pandemic excellently, this coming from a guy that diminished safety precautions and told Americans to drink bleach in order to prevent getting Covid-19. Trump failed to mention that studies found that 40% of U.S. Covid-19 deaths could have been avoided if his policies reflected the advice given to him by public health advisors. He confidently stated, “I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things they (Biden Administration) said about me”. Rather than address gun violence and sensible gun control, Trump took over $30 million from the NRA during his 2016 presidential campaign and blamed political violence on the Biden administration.
Throughout the debate, Trump repeatedly belittled Kamala Harris, dismissing her accomplishments and undermining her with condescending language. He referred to her as “The worst vice president in the history of our country”, with no true facts to back it up. Trump’s attempts to diminish Harris are part of a broader pattern of his misogyny. He has a history of demeaning women in politics, as evidenced by his infamous insults toward Hillary Clinton in 2016 and countless other female public figures. He called her a marxist, first said she had no governmental plan, then said it was a failure, and then said she again had no plan, and was thus “going to his philosophy”. Which one is it, Donald?
Kamala Harris speaking with attendees at the 2019 Iowa Democratic Wing Ding at Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa.
He blatantly lied saying she supported abortion in the ninth month of pregnancy and execution after birth, which both Harris and the moderator clarified was not the case, said Harris hated Israel, and also said she hates the Arab population. Unfortunately, there is not enough space to include all of Trump’s lies, but these notable few will hopefully give the American public a sense of his rhetoric during the debate. However, Harris did not allow these attacks to distract her. She calmly pointed out her work on criminal justice reform and her role in spearheading initiatives like the First Step Act, which led to the release of thousands of incarcerated individuals who had been unfairly sentenced under outdated laws. She also highlighted her work in foreign policy, drawing on her experience as vice president, including her efforts to strengthen alliances with NATO and address climate change. Harris used Trump’s explosive behavior to become the candidate of hope. She made a promise to the American public to sign Roe v. Wade back into law, give a $50,000 tax break to small businesses, and give Americans an administration that is focused on the future, not bring back the past.
Trump’s fascist behavior, from demonizing immigrants to undermining others and refusing to acknowledge his failures is a clear danger. He continues to frame himself as the sole savior of America while deflecting blame for his failures and attacking anyone who challenges his authority. In this election, the choice is clear: to either reject authoritarianism or to hand the mic to a fascist one more time.
