Trump-Harris debate updates: Candidates go on attack in zinger-filled showdown

Harris and Trump sparred in the high-stakes showdown.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Meredith Deliso, Ivan Pereira, Emily Chang, and Brittany Gaddy
Last Updated: September 11, 2024, 12:52 AM EDT

The first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump turned into a heated matchup that lasted more than 90 minutes.

The night started with a handshake initiated by Harris, but quickly escalated as the vice president bashed Trump over his policies and comments, contending that it was time to "offer is a new generation of leadership for our country."

Trump criticized Harris throughout the debate on topics such as Afghanistan and immigration issues, drawing comparisons between the vice president and President Joe Biden.

With Election Day just eight weeks away, the debate came at a critical point as polls show a neck-and-neck race between the candidates.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing:
Sep 11, 12:12 am

A transcript of the Harris-Trump debate

Harris and Trump met for their first presidential debate on Tuesday night. The consequential matchup was hosted by ABC News at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Read a transcript of what was said in the 90-minute debate here.

Sep 10, 2024, 11:42 AM EDT

Debate will show 'strength and success' of Trump vs. 'devastation and weakness' of Harris: Stefanik

House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik teed up her expectations for tonight's presidential debate, telling reporters that Harris "cannot hide forever."

"Tonight at the debate, the country will finally get to see the stark contrast between the strength and success of President Trump's America-first policies and the devastation and weakness of Kamala Harris's radical, failed, far-left agenda," Stefanik, the fourth-ranked House Republican, claimed at a news conference in the Capitol Tuesday morning.

Rep. Elise Stefanik on Capitol Hill, on June 11, 2024 in Washington, D.C.
Al Drago/Getty Images, FILE

-ABC News' John Parkinson

Sep 10, 2024, 11:20 AM EDT

Harris campaign says it’s hosting 1,300 watch parties, Walz to deliver remarks in Arizona

Harris' campaign said it's hosting more than 1,300 debate watch parties across the country, and running mate Gov. Tim Walz will deliver remarks at one of them in Phoenix Tuesday night.

The watch parties will be in all 50 states, with more than 100 planned on college campuses, according to the campaign. The events will be used for volunteers to make calls to battleground-state voters and share debate content on digital platforms.

More than 300 of the planned watch parties will be group specific, including Republicans for Harris-Walz and Veterans for Harris-Walz events in Arizona, North Carolina and Georgia. There will also be Latino house parties in Arizona and labor-organized events in Pennsylvania, according to the campaign.

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz hold a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Aug. 20, 2024.
Marco Bello/Reuters

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow, Gabriella Adbul-Hakim and Will McDuffie

Sep 10, 2024, 11:18 AM EDT

Debate to be held steps away from where the U.S. Constitution was signed

Tuesday night's highly anticipated presidential debate will take place at the National Constitution Center, just steps away from where the U.S. Constitution was drafted and signed in Philadelphia in 1787.

The center is a private, nonprofit organization that attracts people from all over the country and world to learn about, debate and celebrate the historic document, according to its website.

Ahead of the debate, the stage where Harris and Trump will spar was photographed with the opening words to the constitution's preamble brightly on it: “We the People.”

‘Kamala Harris and Donald Trump – ABC News Presidential Debate’ moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis.
Al Drago/ABC NEWS

Sep 10, 2024, 11:15 AM EDT

Lara Trump says Donald Trump has done both 'traditional debate prep' and events, media

Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee, said on CNN on Tuesday morning that Donald Trump has done "traditional debate prep," in addition to preparing by speaking to the media and attending public events.

"He has been preparing for this debate. He's done traditional debate prep," she said, before citing media appearances such as town halls, press conferences, podcasts and interviews.

The Trump campaign has previously focused on media and public events as Trump's debate prep, barely discussing more "traditional" debate prep.

Signage at the media filing center ahead of the presidential debate between Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Philadelphia.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

Lara Trump framed her father-in-law's public events and media availability as a "stark contrast, of course, to what we've seen from Kamala Harris."

"I think Donald Trump is very focused on this debate tonight. He knows how important it is. He doesn't take anything for granted," she said.

– ABC News' Oren Oppenheim