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, 9:30 PM EDT

Project 2025 is widely unpopular in polls

Tying Trump to Project 2025 has been a big part of the Harris campaign strategy, and she’s already done so a few times during this debate. Polls have consistently shown the plan and its proposals are widely unpopular, so it’s no surprise that Trump is disavowing it yet again.

In mid-July, a YouGov/The Economist poll found that 47% of Americans thought Trump at least somewhat supports the plan, while more than half said it "accurately describes what Trump stands for" in an early August survey by Navigator Research, a progressive-aligned polling outfit.

—538's Tia Yang

Sep 10, 2024, 9:28 PM EDT

Trump repeats falsehoods about Democrats supporting abortions after birth

Trump was asked about his shifting stances on abortion issues, specifically his flip-flop on support for Florida's abortion rights ballot measure.

He spent a majority of his response railing against Democrats for being "too liberal" on abortion access and falsely stating they support abortions after birth.

"In other words, we'll execute the baby," he claimed.

This is false. There is no state that allows the killing of a baby after birth. Infanticide is illegal in all 50 states.

"There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it is born," ABC News moderator Linsey Davis responded.

Sep 10, 2024, 9:27 PM EDT

Trump labels Harris a Marxist, she laughs it off

Trump is already wading into personal attacks against Harris while answering specific questions about the economy, calling her and her father a Marxist.

“Everything that she believed three years ago and four years ago is out the window. She is going to my philosophy now. In fact, I was going to send her a MAGA hat.” He continued, “She is a Marxist. Everyone knows she is a Marxist. Her father is a Marxist professor in economics. He taught her well.”

Harris could be seen laughing as he delivered the remark.

Sep 10, 2024, 9:25 PM EDT

CLAIM: Trump wants '20% tax on everyday goods' that would cost families 'about $4000 more a year'

Fact Check: True, but needs context

Trump has proposed a universal "10-20%" tariff on all U.S. imports, from cars and electronics to wine, food products and many other goods. He has also proposed a 60% tariff on imports from China. Vice President Harris called the plan "Trump’s sales tax," though the former president has not explicitly proposed such a tax. Independent economists, however, say the proposed import tariffs would unquestionably result in higher prices for American consumers across the board (Tax Foundation, American Action Forum, Tax Policy Center, Center for American Progress, Peterson Institute)>.

Donald Trump is asked about his proposal for tariff's on foreign imports across the board.
4:26

Trump discusses tariff proposal

Donald Trump is asked about his proposal for tariff's on foreign imports across the board.
ABCNews.com

The precise financial impact on families is hard to predict and estimates vary widely – from additional annual costs per household of $1,700 to nearly $4,000, depending on the study.

Trump has not called for any tax hikes for American families. He has proposed exempting Social Security benefits and tips from taxation, as well as extending individual tax cuts enacted in 2017.