In a highly anticipated faceoff, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump met on the debate stage in Philadelphia for the first time. It was an evening filled with sharp contrasts, biting rhetoric, and awkward moments from the convicted felon. President Joe Biden's recent exit from the race made this debate critical for Democrats, and Harris delivered. 

ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis moderated the debate, which marked the first time the two had ever met on stage. 

From the very start, Vice President Kamala Harris established herself as a clear and composed candidate, focused on the needs of working Americans. Her opening remarks directly appealed to middle-class families, promising tax cuts and expanded financial support. "I was raised as a middle-class kid, and I am actually the only person on this stage who has a plan that is about lifting up the middle class and working people of America," she declared.

Harris laid out her vision, emphasizing a $6,000 child tax credit to help young families afford the necessities of life, from cribs to car seats. Her focus on real issues, like affordable housing and childcare, stood in stark contrast to Trump's erratic performance, which was often littered with personal attacks and conspiracy theories. Harris's ability to stay grounded and factual while fact-checking Trump in real time underscored her competence and confidence.

Former President Trump, by contrast, spent much of the evening hurling accusations and repeating falsehoods. Slouched over the podium, he seemed more interested in tearing down his opponent than addressing the pressing issues facing Americans. He accused Harris’ father of being a "Marxist" and bizarrely claimed she had copied his policies, even offering to send her a "MAGA hat."

In one of the debate's more shocking moments, Trump made the baseless accusation that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were "eating the dogs and cats" of residents—a statement swiftly refuted by Muir. Despite being fact-checked in real time, Trump doubled down on his outlandish claims, leaving many viewers questioning his grasp on reality.

The debate over abortion rights brought one of the most compelling contrasts between the two candidates. Trump defended his role in overturning Roe v. Wade, calling it a "great service" and praising himself for returning the issue to the states. But Harris, one of the administration’s strongest advocates for reproductive rights, did not let Trump’s comments go unchecked.

She vividly described the real-world consequences of Trump’s policies, sharing stories of women denied care after suffering miscarriages because healthcare providers feared legal repercussions. "Pregnant women who want to carry a pregnancy to term, suffering from a miscarriage, being denied care in an emergency room because the healthcare providers are afraid they might go to jail," Harris said. Her powerful retort cut through Trump’s self-congratulatory rhetoric and resonated with voters concerned about reproductive rights.

Race in America was another key focus of the night, particularly Trump's long history of using race to divide. Vice President Harris directly addressed Trump’s attempts to question her racial identity, calling it a “tragedy” that he would exploit such divisive rhetoric. Back in July, Trump falsely suggested that Harris had misled voters about her race, saying she “turned Black.” During the debate, Trump said,  "All I can say is I read where she was not Black and then I read that she was Black, and that’s OK," Trump stated, as if Harris’ racial identity were up for debate.

Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, firmly shut down Trump’s rhetoric. "This is the same individual who spread birther lies about the first Black president of the United States. And I think the American people want better than that," she said. Harris went on to discuss Trump's history of racial discrimination in his real estate business and his infamous call for the execution of the Central Park Five, Black and Latino teenagers falsely convicted of a crime in 1989.

In a moment that shocked many, Trump continued to defend his stance on the Central Park Five despite their exoneration and a $41 million settlement awarded to them. "They pled guilty … They badly hurt a person, they killed a person, ultimately," Trump falsely claimed. 

Throughout the debate, the contrast between the two candidates was striking. Kamala Harris stood as a beacon of calm, measured leadership, focused on uniting Americans and addressing the real issues affecting everyday people. Her emphasis on economic relief for working families, reproductive rights, and racial justice painted a picture of a leader ready to govern with empathy and a steady hand.

In contrast, Donald Trump’s performance was marked by divisive rhetoric, wild conspiracy theories, and a focus on himself. His inability to address key issues like healthcare, the economy, and race without resorting to personal attacks only reinforced the perception that Trump is a man more interested in self-aggrandizement than serving the American people.

Shortly after the debate, pop icon Taylor Swift made headlines by endorsing Kamala Harris for president. “I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election,” Swift announced on Instagram. Her endorsement of Harris as a "steady-handed, gifted leader.” She signed the post “childless cat lady” referencing JD Vance’s bizarre comments. 

She signed the post with a playful jab, calling herself the “Childless Cat Lady,” a direct reference to Ohio Senator JD Vance's bizarre remarks criticizing women without children.

One thing is certain: Kamala Harris showcased her readiness to lead the nation, presenting a clear and forward-looking vision for the future. In stark contrast, Trump remains mired in a cycle of division, conspiracy theories, and self-centered rhetoric.

Clay Cane is a SiriusXM radio host and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Grift: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans From the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump.