Harris blasts Trump’s tariffs, economic policies

**Washington: Economy: Whose Plan is Better?**

**Harris**
Harris aimed to create an “opportunity economy” by supporting homeowners, young parents, and small businesses. She dismissed Trump’s tariff proposals, labelling them as “Trump’s sales tax,” and warned that these tariffs could increase the average American household’s expenses by $4,000 annually. She argued that his tax cuts favoured the wealthy and would expand the deficit. She referenced Goldman Sachs, Wharton, and various Nobel laureates to endorse her economic plan.

**Trump**
Trump insisted that the economy thrived under his leadership. He criticised the current administration for high inflation rates and claimed that illegal immigrants were taking jobs from African-Americans and Hispanics. He defended tariffs, pointing out that Biden continued them, which he took as evidence of their success, and asserted that they would not lead to higher consumer prices.

Harris points out that Trump left the economy in shambles, our democracy under attack, and brings up Project 2025 pic.twitter.com/21hehSx3Gg

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 11, 2024

**China: Who is Tougher?**

**Harris**
Harris accused Trump of selling American technology to China, which she claimed was used to bolster Beijing’s military. She emphasised the need for the US to collaborate with allies, invest in technology, and support workers’ rights to outcompete China in the 21st century. She also accused Trump of thanking Xi Jinping during the pandemic despite China’s lack of transparency about the virus’s origins.

**Trump**
Trump boasted that he was the only president to make China pay the US billions. He argued that China sourced chips from Taiwan, not the US, and blamed Democrats for America’s manufacturing decline. He also labelled Harris a Marxist.

**Abortion: Who is More Caring?**

**Harris**
Harris held Trump’s Supreme Court judge selections responsible for overturning national abortion protections, leading to bans in 20 states. She shared stories of suffering caused by these bans, which often make no exceptions for rape or incest. She insisted that neither Trump nor the government should dictate a woman’s choices about her body and accused him of planning to restrict fertility treatments. She promised to restore protections under Roe v Wade through legislation.

**Trump**
Trump took pride in his judge selections and claimed that overturning Roe v Wade and returning the decision to states was widely desired. He supported exceptions for abortion in cases of rape, incest, and the mother’s health. He accused Democrats of promoting late-term abortions and even post-birth executions. He remained non-committal on signing a national abortion ban but claimed leadership on fertility treatments.

**Immigration: Who Will Keep Borders Secure?**

**Harris**
Harris accused Trump of blocking a bipartisan border security bill for political gain. She highlighted her efforts in prosecuting transnational criminal gangs involved in trafficking guns, drugs, and people.

**Trump**
Trump blamed the Biden-Harris administration for a surge of illegal immigrants, whom he claimed were from mental institutions and prisons. He held migrants responsible for crimes, job losses, and even bizarrely claimed they were “eating away pets” in small towns. He vowed to remove them.

**Afghanistan: Who Was Responsible?**

**Harris**
Harris supported Biden’s decision to withdraw troops, noting that four presidents had aimed to do the same. She blamed Trump for a poor deal with the Taliban that excluded the Afghan government and released Taliban prisoners. She criticised him for inviting Taliban leaders to Camp David.

**Trump**
Trump credited himself for ending American troop casualties in Afghanistan. He defended his deal with the Taliban, asserting it would have facilitated a smoother and quicker withdrawal. He accused the current administration of abandoning Americans and leaving military equipment worth $85 billion behind, calling it the most embarrassing day in American history and linking it to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

**Ukraine and Gaza: What Happened, What Next?**

**Harris**
Harris supported Ukraine and condemned Russia for violating its sovereignty. She praised NATO and accused Trump of being easily manipulated by autocrats. She condemned Hamas’s attack on Israel, supported Israel’s right to respond, and emphasised the need for a ceasefire and hostage deal. She committed to a two-state solution respecting Palestinian self-determination, security, and dignity.

**Trump**
Trump claimed that neither the Ukraine war nor the Gaza conflict would have occurred under his leadership. He criticised Biden-Harris for being weak and ineffective. He promised to end the Ukraine war between his election and taking office. He boasted of his strong relationships with both Putin and Zelensky. He accused Harris of being anti-Israel and anti-Arab, claiming Israel would not survive her leadership.