The state of the economy was the focal point of a heated debate between President Biden and former President Trump on Thursday evening. Despite the low national mood on the economy, the two leaders went head-to-head in a discussion that brought up a range of economic issues.
In the opening minutes of the debate, inflation, price levels, housing shortages, the impact of Trump’s tax cuts, employment rates, and the recovery from the pandemic-induced recession were all discussed.
Biden criticized Trump for favoring the wealthy in his economic policies, pointing to large tax cuts and an increase in deficit during Trump’s term in office. On the other hand, Trump defended his tariff proposals as a way to improve the U.S. economy and compete more effectively with China.
Analyses by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget found that Trump’s decisions added over $8 trillion to the deficit – twice as much as what Biden’s fiscal policies would contribute. The debate underscored how sharply divided Biden and Trump are on economic matters and their respective visions for future of country’s economy.