Trump vs Harris 2024 Showdown: Progressives Claim Stark Contrast After Fiery Debate!

The 2024 U.S. presidential debate that took place in Philadelphia on Tuesday night showcased a clear contrast, according to progressive advocates and labor leaders. They observed a former president who is focused on reducing taxes for the wealthy and attacking basic freedoms, up against a vice president committed to safeguarding abortion rights, fighting corporate malpractices, and addressing the country’s housing crisis.

Throughout the 90-minute debate, Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, recycled false claims about the 2020 election, reiterated xenophobic misconceptions about immigrants, boasted about the conservative-leaning Supreme Court’s decision to remove the constitutional right to abortion, refused to commit to vetoing a nationwide abortion ban, and reiterated his intent to “cut taxes very substantially.”

Democratic ticket frontrunner, Kamala Harris, repeatedly criticized Trump’s economic policies, claiming that they are primarily about “tax breaks for the wealthiest individuals.” She accused the former president of prioritizing his defense over the welfare of the American people. Harris highlighted her endorsement from the United Auto Workers and condemned the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs during Trump’s tenure.

Discussing reproductive rights, Harris pointed out that Trump “deliberately picked three Supreme Court justices with the aim of dismantling the protections of Roe v. Wade, and they did exactly what he wanted.”

“Currently, over 20 states have implemented Trump-supported abortion bans that criminalize the provision of healthcare by doctors and nurses,” Harris stated. “In one state, the penalty is life imprisonment. These bans do not even make exceptions for cases of rape and incest.”

She went on to say, “Consider what that implies. A victim of a crime, a violation against their body, doesn’t have the right to decide what happens to their body afterward. That is morally wrong. No one has to renounce their faith or deeply held convictions to agree that the government, and certainly not Donald Trump, should not dictate what a woman does with her body.”

Progressive advocacy group Swing Left said post-debate that “there is only one candidate who will safeguard and extend our freedoms,” adding that “the choice is unequivocally clear.”

“Harris has a lucid plan for her presidency: Building a society of opportunities, securing reproductive freedom, making housing affordable, and guaranteeing access to healthcare for millions of Americans,” said the group. “Donald Trump aims to tax the middle class while giving tax cuts to his billionaire friends, further erode reproductive rights—including abortion, in vitro fertilization, and birth control—and put Project 2025 into action on day one. But instead of presenting his vision, he struggled to articulate a single clear point.”

On the topic of housing, the co-executive directors of the Center for Popular Democracy Action said Harris “did what no other presidential candidate or incumbent president has done.”

“Harris outlined a future that supports first-time homebuyers and demonstrated her commitment to the American workforce,” said Analilia Mejia and DaMareo Cooper. “Trump is a racist slumlord. The contrast couldn’t be sharper and for the Center for Popular Democracy Action, the choice is obvious.”

Liz Shuler, the president of the AFL-CIO, described the 2024 race as a “fundamental choice,” characterizing Harris as a “principled, tough fighter who’ll strive to create opportunities for all of us” and Trump as “an unhinged serial union buster who betrays the working class.”

“As tonight’s debate reminded us, a second Trump term would be a corporate CEO’s dream and a worker’s nightmare,” Shuler stated late Tuesday. “Trump and Vance are poised to make their Project 2025 agenda a horrifying reality: dismantling unions, eliminating millions of union jobs, and making it nearly impossible for workers to organize, all while cutting wages and benefits and jeopardizing health and safety at work. They’re running a campaign based on division and fear to distract from the fact that they and their wealthy donors are the primary beneficiaries—not the workers who keep this country going.”

“Harris’ remarks on Gaza continue to alienate voters horrified by Netanyahu’s U.S.-funded offensive.”

However, not all reactions to Harris’ debate performance were positive.

Her expressed support for fracking and boasting about “the largest increase in domestic oil production in history” under the Biden administration angered environmental groups.

“Tonight, Harris dedicated more time to promoting fracking than outlining a bold vision for a renewable energy future,” stated the youth-led Sunrise Movement. “That’s a significant missed opportunity. In an election this tight, every young climate-conscious voter we mobilize is crucial.”

Progressives also criticized Harris’ response to the sole question about Israel’s attack on Gaza. They have been urging the vice president to support an arms embargo against the Israeli military—a stance that recent polls suggest would increase her popularity among U.S. voters.

On the debate stage Tuesday night, Harris reiterated her support for a cease-fire but underscored that “Israel has the right to defend itself.”

“Harris’ remarks on Gaza continue to upset voters horrified by Netanyahu’s U.S.-funded onslaught,” said Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement. “They offer no innovation and perpetuate the deadly status quo. It’s simple: To end the war, our government must stop supplying the weapons fueling the war.”