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Kamala Harris and Donald Trump had their first debate on Sept. 10.

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — On Sept. 10 at 9 p.m. EST, Los Alamitos High School families gathered around TVs to tune into ABC and watch a live news broadcast taking place in the Nation Constitution Center in Philadelphia: the presidential debate.

Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump emerged from the left of the stage with Vice President Kamala Harris on the right. Harris immediately walked up to her opponent’s podium and shook his hand, introducing herself to him for the first time in their four-year political rivalry. 

There was no live audience, only moderators David Muir and Lindsey Davis, who were responsible for asking questions and keeping time. 

Rules of the debate

Prior to the debate on Sept. 3, a virtual coin toss was held with Donald Trump winning. He chose to select the order of statements. Candidates were granted two minutes to answer questions, two minutes for a rebuttal and one minute for additional response. Candidates were not allowed to ask one another questions. 

The debate was held for 90 minutes and included two commercial breaks. Both candidates were provided with one bottle of water, a notepad and a pen. Microphones were turned off while the other candidate was speaking.

Questions were not shared with the candidates prior to the debate, and no pre-written notes or conversing with campaign officials were allowed at any time.

During the debate

The debate opened with the first question asked to the Democratic nominee Kamala Harris about America’s economic state and if the country is better off than it was four years ago. 

Harris answered by speaking on her experience growing up in a middle-class family and her passion for small businesses. She also spoke on her plans for tax cuts to provide financial aid to families with children and small businesses.

“My plan is to give a $50,000 tax reduction to start up small businesses, knowing they are part of the backbone of America’s economy,” Harris said.

Trump talked about tariffs and money he planned on receiving from foreign countries. While answering the same question about the economy, he went off topic to critique Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for their handling of illegal immigration and made claims about what the effects the handling of immigration has had on the economy, including migrants taking jobs away from American citizens.

“I created one of the greatest economies in the history of our country. I’ll do it again and even better,” Trump said to round off his first response.

Trump continued to go off topic; when asked about his claims of the 2020 election being rigged, he began to segway into illegal immigrants being encouraged to vote.

“Our elections are bad, and a lot of these illegal immigrants are coming in there trying to get them to vote. (Immigrants) can’t even speak English, (immigrants) don’t even know what country they’re in practically and these people are trying to get (immigrants) to vote, and that’s why they’re allowing them to come into our country,” Trump said.

33 minutes into the debate, the former president made a comment referencing Springfield, Ohio, a city recently dealing with a surge in immigration from Haiti.

“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats,” he said.

Following Trump’s statement, Muir responded that there are no reports or credible claims of harm to any Springfield pets.

The Israel-Hamas war was also discussed, with a question focused on how it was recently confirmed by the Israeli prime minister that there is currently no plea deal in the making. Harris was asked how she would make a plea deal possible. 

“We must chart a course for a two-state solution. And in that solution there must be security for the Israeli people and Israel and equal measures for the Palestinians, but the one thing I will assure you always is I will always give Israel the ability to defend itself,” Harris said.

When asked about how he would negotiate a deal with Netanyahu and Hamas to free civilians and prevent any further war, Trump claimed that if he were president, the Israel- Hamas war would never have started and talked about Ukraine and Russia. 

“Iran was broke under Donald Trump. Now Iran has over $3 billion because (Democrats) took off all the sections that I had,” Trump said.

Following the debate

Popular news outlets such as CNN came fourth praising Harris and bashing Trump following the end of the broadcasting.

“She came across as energetic and brimmed with a positive future vision. Trump glowered and ranted and blasted America as a failing nation and seemed off his game,” said CNN writer Stephan Collinson.

“Compared to other debates, the ones that we’ve seen most recently I think it went pretty well,” said LAHS substitute teacher Mr. Clabojh. 

Celebrities even chimed in online following the debate, with Taylor Swift openly endorsing Harris.

“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 presidential election,” Swift said in an Instagram post.

Swift also notably signed off on the Instagram post calling herself the “childless cat lady,” a reference to comments made by JD Vance, the Republican vice president nomination. 

Some LAHS students wonder why it’s important that they are aware of political issues and view the upcoming election as anything more than an every-four-years meme. 

“It is important to vote and speak your mind because this is our future we are voting for,” said sophomore Sophie Long.

As students are entering adulthood and college, these issues will continue to be more prevalent in the minds of students faster than some may realize. Key issues that will soon be affecting LAHS students were mentioned during the debate, such as student loans.

“(Students) are the future of our country. (Students) are our next leaders,” said LAHS principal Mrs. Kraus. “(LAHS has) a responsibility to provide access to many perspectives, and (LAHS has) a responsibility to teach the skills to navigate fact-finding as well as ensuring that (students) are the future minds for our country.”