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:

Sep 11, 2024, 12:43 AM EDT
'Wasn’t even close': Biden reacts to debate
Sep 11, 2024, 12:41 AM EDT
Over half of debate watchers think Harris won: Poll
Sep 11, 2024, 12:39 AM EDT
Key takeaways from the Harris-Trump debate
Sep 11, 2024, 12:09 AM EDT
Harris proposes 2nd debate, Trump doesn't immediately commit
Sep 11, 2024, 12:07 AM EDT
Harris tells watch party: 'We are still the underdogs in this race'

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, 1:30 PM EDT

Harris not 'underestimating' Trump ahead of debate: Source

Just hours away from the debate, a campaign source is setting expectations that Harris is not "underestimating" Trump's ability to debate, and that it would be a "mistake" to do so.

The Harris team expects Trump to be "good" at debating, stressing that Trump has done this more than anybody else, while it will be Harris's first presidential debate.

The Harris campaign is "happy to get under [Trump's] skin," and they hope that bringing former Trump officials into the spin room later this evening will accomplish this.

On a campaign call last night, a source said Harris is ready for any version of Trump that shows up -- whether it's the presidential Trump, the more mellow Trump during the Biden debate or a more aggressive version.

-ABC News' Selina Wang

Sep 10, 2024, 1:08 PM EDT

8 hours until the Harris-Trump ABC debate, here is how to watch tonight

The consequential Harris-Trump face-off will air live tonight at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and stream on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu.

ABC News Live is available on Samsung TV+, The Roku Channel, Amazon Fire TV devices, YouTube, Tubi, the ABC app, and ABC.com.

ABC News Digital and 538 will live blog the latest from the debate stage with coverage, analysis and fact checks.

SiriusXM users can listen to the debate on Channel 370.

The prime-time pre-debate special, "Race for the White House," will air at 8 p.m. ET and stream on ABC's platforms.

Where Kamala Harris, Donald Trump stand on key issues

Harris and Trump are facing off at a pivotal time, with just weeks until Election Day and days before some states begin the early voting process.

Hot-button political issues that are likely to be discussed by Harris and Trump include the economy and inflation, immigration, reproductive rights, and crime and gun violence.

Foreign policy and the state of democracy are also expected to come up.

Biden to watch debate from New York

President Joe Biden will be watching the debate from New York, where he's going to be for 9/11 memorial events, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

"The president will definitely be watching," she said in Monday’s briefing.

Jean-Pierre wouldn't give details on any conversations about the debate between Harris and Biden or whether he's given her any takeaways from his own last face-off with Trump, but she said the president was "very proud" of Harris.

"What I can say is, that he'll be watching, he supports, obviously, the vice president, is very proud of her, and I just don't have anything else to add," she said.