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, 5:32 PM EDT

Newsom, Shapiro, Duckworth among Harris spin room surrogates

The Harris campaign released its list of surrogates who will be in the spin room during the debate.

Four Democratic governors -- Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Gavin Newsom of California and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania -- are among the group, as well as Sens. Laphonza Butler of California, Tammy Duckworth from Illinois and Chris Murphy of Connecticut.

Four Democratic House members -- Jason Crow from Colorado, Veronica Escobar of Texas, Robert Garcia from California and Ted Lieu of California -- will also be joining, as well as retired Brig. Gen. Steve Anderson, a former Republican; Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju and Khizr Khan, a Gold Star father.

Sep 10, 2024, 5:08 PM EDT

Biden says he spoke with Harris, who appears 'calm, cool and collected'

As he left the White House for New York, where he will watch tonight's debate, President Joe Biden said he's spoken with Harris.

Biden wouldn't divulge what advice he had for her, but said she appeared "calm, cool and collected."

"I think she’s going to do great," Biden said.

Sep 10, 2024, 5:01 PM EDT

Trump en route to Philadelphia

The Trump campaign posted a short clip of the former president boarding his plane, saying he's en route to Philadelphia. Harris arrived in the city Monday evening.

-ABC News' Soorin Kim

Sep 10, 2024, 4:50 PM EDT

Hillary Clinton said Kamala Harris should 'bait' Trump during tonight’s debate

Hillary Clinton gave some advice to Vice President Kamala Harris on tonight's debate, according to The New York Times.

"She just should not be baited. She should bait him. He can be rattled," Clinton told The Times during a recent phone interview.

Clinton confirmed to NYT that she had spoken to Harris directly and discussed "a number of things" prior to the debate.

As the 2016 Democratic nominee, Clinton has experience debating the former president.

She said she believes Harris "has a lot of good ammunition" and that she's "handling him [Trump] very well."