Vice President Kamala Harris attempts to link Project 2025 to former President Donald Trump during a heated presidential debate, but Trump denies any involvement with the controversial plan.
At a Glance
- Harris criticizes Trump over Project 2025, a 922-page conservative manifesto
- Trump denies any connection to or knowledge of Project 2025
- The debate covers various topics including gun control, foreign policy, and abortion
- This is potentially the only scheduled debate before the November general election
Harris Targets Trump with Project 2025 Accusations
In a strategic move during the presidential debate, Vice President Kamala Harris attempted to tie former President Donald Trump to Project 2025, a controversial conservative plan. The debate, held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, saw Harris taking an aggressive stance against her opponent.
“What you’re going to hear tonight is a detailed and dangerous plan called Project 2025 that the former president intends on implementing if he were elected again,” Harris, 59, said.
Project 2025, a 922-page manifesto developed by the Heritage Foundation, outlines a comprehensive overhaul of the federal government under a potential Republican administration. The plan includes controversial proposals such as increasing presidential control, firing up to 50,000 federal workers, and replacing them with loyalists.
Trump’s Rebuttal and Denial
Trump vehemently denied any association with Project 2025, stating, “I have nothing to do with Project 2025. That’s out there. I haven’t read it. I don’t want to read it, purposely. I’m not going to read it.” He reiterated this stance on his social media platform, Truth Social, emphasizing his lack of involvement and knowledge about the project.
Harris tries to pin Project 2025 on Trump during presidential debate https://t.co/RmcEcTLihi pic.twitter.com/eYjyfcjB7w
— New York Post (@nypost) September 11, 2024
Debate Highlights Key Issues
The 90-minute debate, potentially the only one before the November general election, covered a wide range of topics. Harris positioned herself as an optimistic leader focusing on future plans and middle-class support. In contrast, Trump criticized her for not implementing her proposed plans while in office, repeatedly asking, “Why hasn’t she done it?”
The debate also touched on gun control, with Harris revealing her gun ownership to counter Trump’s accusations. On foreign policy, Trump questioned NATO’s value and suggested he could broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Harris supported Israel’s right to defend itself while advocating for a two-state solution.
Impact on the Election
The debate’s timing and unique circumstances could make it particularly influential in this election cycle. As political science professor Karen Hult from Virginia Tech notes, “Many potential voters do not focus on fall presidential elections until after Labor Day. The earliness of the first and perhaps only debate between Harris and Trump, combined with voters’ possible lack of familiarity with Harris, her views, and her agenda, suggest large numbers of people likely will try to view or listen to at least some of the debate.”
With President Joe Biden’s unexpected exit from the race and Harris’s rapid ascension as the Democratic candidate, this debate could play a crucial role in shaping voter perceptions and influencing the outcome of the upcoming election.
Sources:
1.Harris tries to pin Project 2025 on Trump during first minutes of presidential debate
2.The Trump-Harris debate: Experts lay out the stakes for both candidates
3.Here Are the Key Debate Attacks to Expect. Hint: It May Get Personal.
