VP Debate 2020 Live Updates: Harris questions Trump's debts and taxes, says 'American people have a right to know '
Vice Presidential candidates of 2020, Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, face off tonight at 9pm ET for the first and only general election vice presidential debate of the year in Salt Lake City, Utah. The discourse will be moderated by USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page and the two candidates will be separated by plexiglass barriers and given a distance of 12 feet. The candidates will not shake hands.
Harris questions Trump's mystery debts and taxes
When the moderator posed a question on whether voters deserve a clearer picture of the presidential candidates’ health, Harris took the opportunity to bring in transparency about Trump's taxes, suggesting that the president is in debt. “Just so everyone is clear, when we say in debt, it means you owe money to somebody. It would be really good to know who the president of the United States, the commander-in-chief, owes money to,” Harris said.
“Because the American people have a right to know what is influencing the President's decisions. And is he making those decisions on the best interests of the American people, of you, or self-interest?”
Pence defends 'superspreader' Rose Garden event
The vice president defended the administration’s decision to hold a packed event in the White House Rose Garden eleven days ago amid a pandemic, just days before President Trump, first lady, and multiple attendees tested positive for Covid-19. Pence, however, defended the decision saying it was about personal freedom.
Pence attacks Harris on Green New Deal
The Vice President attacked the senator on the Green New Deal, saying "you were one of the cosponsors" of the deal in the Senate. "I thought this debate was based on fact," Harris defended saying Biden will not ban fracking. "Biden thinks about growing jobs, won't increase taxes for anyone who makes less than $400,000 a year."
The Senator slammed the Trump administration, saying they took "Science" off their website.
Harris raps Pence: 'Mr Vice President, please let me speak'
Harris, during the debate, has rapped Pence multiple times over interrupting her during her statement, saying she would like to have a proper conversation without interruption. The swipe is also reminiscent of the nature of the first 2020 presidential debate where President Donald Trump incessantly interrupted Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Pence backs Trump, saying the American president is a 'businessman'
Pence argued that "job creator" Trump will generate more jobs amidst the coronavirus pandemic on the issue of the administration's economic plan. He argued that Trump cut taxes across the board.
"There couldn't be a more fundamental difference between Trump and Biden on economy," Harris said while defending the Biden tax cuts. She said Biden will also invest in infrastructure, education, research and development to become innovation leader. "Community college will be free, student loan debt will be cut by $10,000," she added.
Harris over vaccine: 'If Trump asks me to take a vaccine, I'm not taking it '
The Senator, over the topic of vaccination, said that she would be the first in line to take a vaccine if medical experts recommend to take it. Harris also slammed Pence, saying "You respect the American people when you tell them the truth" attacking the Trump administration over the spread of their misinformation amidst the pandemic.
Pence, instead, brought up the 2009 swine flu pandemic, slammed Biden's handling of the then pandemic.
Harris slams Trump's handling of coronavirus crisis as 'greatest failure'
The debate began with the topic of the coronavirus crisis in the country, with Harris initiating the discourse by slamming the Trump administration's handling of the crisis as the "one of the biggest failures in the history of the country."
While Pence called former Vice President Joe Biden's coronavirus plan "plagiarism." "Something Biden knows about," he added, suggesting it had borrowed from the Trump plan to combat the virus.
Debate Begins
Vice President Mike Pence and California Senator Kamala Harris' debate has started. The discourse will run for 90 minutes without any commercial breaks.
Temperature Checks
All attendees of the debate have had their temperatures checked before entering the premises as a precautionary measure amid the coronavirus pandemic. Each attendee was also asked to get a negative result on their Covid-19 tests 72 hours before the event begins. The building also features hand sanitization stations as you enter.
Ever since Trump's coronavirus diagnosis, Pence has kept a low profile and would be expected to give a much-needed boost to the Trump-Pence campaign through the debate. On the other hand, Democrats are pinning their hopes on a success based on Harris' renowned prosecutorial skills to make a case against Pence. Here is a list of issues that the two candidates are likely to touch base on during the much-anticipated discourse: