The First Debate Between Vice President Harris and Former President Trump
The highly anticipated debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump took place in Philadelphia on Tuesday, September 10th. This debate, held at the National Constitution Center, may be the only face-off between Harris and Trump leading up to the November presidential elections.
During the debate, the two candidates discussed various issues including foreign relations, crime, immigration, and abortion. VERIFY analyzed several claims made by Harris and Trump during the debate.
The Claim
Harris: “My opponent has a plan that I call the Trump tax, which could be a 20% tax on common goods that you rely on every month. Economists have said that this tax could actually result in around $4,000 for middle-class families.”
The Sources
The Response
Harris was possibly referring to Trump’s proposal to impose a 20% tariff on all imports as a “national sales tax.”
These tariffs, or tariffs, are taxes that countries impose on imported goods when they cross the border. They are paid by companies or individuals importing those goods. This is different from sales taxes that could be applied to everything Americans purchase at the time of sale.
However, economists explain that the costs of tariffs are largely passed on to consumers, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The figure Harris shared about the tax for middle-class families resulting from the tariffs proposed by Trump is accurate based on some economists’ estimates.
The Center for American Progress (CAP) Action Fund, a progressive advocacy group, estimates that a general 20% tax combined with a 60% tax on Chinese goods that Trump has also proposed could add up to a $3,900 tax increase for a median-income family.
“The methodology that the Center for American Progress uses is a good way to estimate the tariff burden on middle-class households,” noted Erik York, senior economist with the independent Tax Foundation Center for Tax Policy.
The Claim
Trump: “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people who came, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating people’s pets who live there.”
The Sources
The Response
There is no evidence to support recent claims that members of the Haitian immigrant community in Springfield, Ohio, have injured or eaten wild animals or pets, according to city officials.
“In response to recent rumors alleging criminal activity by the immigrant community in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific complaints of pets being mistreated, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community,” explained Karen Graves, a spokesperson for the City of Springfield.
“Additionally, there have been no verified instances of immigrants engaging in illegal activities such as trespassing or littering in front of residents’ homes. Also, there have been no reports of members of the immigrant community deliberately disrupting traffic,” Graves added.
The Springfield Police Division also stated that they have not received reports of stolen or eaten pets, reported the Springfield News-Sun.
Leann Castillo, executive director of the Clark County Park District, explained that “there has been no evidence or reports of this happening in Clark County parks,” where Springfield is located. Castillo clarified that the parks office has been receiving inquiries on the matter, but “they are not aware of this taking place.”
The Claim
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