By: Noah Yeboah
The much-anticipated 2024 debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on September 15, 2024, felt less like a political duel and more like a WWE event—minus the chairs. Harris, ever composed, stood across from Trump, who came armed with his signature mix of bravado and reality-TV theatrics. The debate featured three main characters: Harris, Trump, and Trump…again. Seriously, it was like watching a Trump family reunion, but with podiums.
The night kicked off with the candidates addressing the economy, and Trump wasted no time reminding everyone he’s a Wharton grad for the 137th time (we get it, Donald), but Harris wasn’t fazed. She calmly dismantled his fiscal policy, bringing up actual numbers instead of alumni associations. But Trump wasn’t about to let facts get in the way of his performance. He quickly pivoted to immigration, pulling out one of his greatest hits: a debunked story about immigrants eating their neighbors’ pets. Yep, that happened.
Harris, meanwhile, doubled down on her unofficial slogan, “We’re not going back,” cleverly contrasting Trump’s throwback policies with her forward-looking vision. She threw shade with the precision of a seasoned politician, subtly implying Trump’s policies were as outdated as MySpace profiles. The crowd didn’t cheer since there wasn’t one, but you could almost hear college students across the country typing out the next viral tweet.
One of the most heated exchanges was on foreign policy. Trump, ever the wild card, teased some kind of “secret plan” to end the Israel-Hamas conflict, like he was about to drop an album. Harris, ever the professional, stressed the importance of diplomacy, reminding voters that maybe, just maybe, foreign policy should involve actual planning and not just catchy slogans.
By the end of the debate, both candidates dropped enough soundbites to fill a semester’s worth of Political Science 101 discussions. Trump was his usual bombastic self, taking every opportunity to steer the conversation back to his own greatest hits: “the best economy ever,” “Hillary’s emails,” and of course, “Wharton.” Meanwhile, Harris kept it cool, showcasing her ability to engage without being pulled into Trump’s showmanship.
The real question on everyone’s mind wasn’t who won, but which moments would make the best memes. College students, professors, and political junkies alike now have a treasure trove of moments to dissect, laugh at, and maybe even learn from. In the end, it wasn’t just a debate—it was an experience.