On Tuesday night, the debate kicked off with a handshake by both candidates.
JD Vance and Tim Walz exchanged criticisms of their presidential opponents, engaging in debates over international conflicts, the US economy, immigration, and abortion rights.
Despite the heated exchanges, this debate was considered one of the most civil of the 2024 campaign.
Immigration was a major topic, with Vance focusing on the US southern border and accusing his opponents of weakness, while Walz argued that Trump had undermined tough immigration reforms.
The debate grew tense when Vance was questioned about false claims he had made regarding Haitian migrants in Ohio, resulting in his microphone being muted.
Middle Eastern tensions also dominated the discussion, as the debate occurred shortly after an Iranian missile attack on Israel. Walz expressed strong support for Israel, while Vance highlighted Trump’s tenure, claiming no major conflicts arose under his leadership.
Abortion rights sparked a passionate exchange, with Walz sharing stories of women affected by abortion restrictions and Vance admitting that his stance on the issue had evolved, acknowledging his party’s struggle to regain voters’ trust.
Both candidates had to address past controversial comments. Walz admitted to a mistake about his presence in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square massacre, while Vance walked back previous criticisms of Trump, calling his past views “mistakes.”
Despite these moments, the debate was marked by a notably polite tone, with both candidates maintaining civility, exchanging smiles, and occasionally agreeing on points, a contrast to the more aggressive exchanges seen in previous debates.
