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, 9:47 PM EDT

'Up to the American people to stop' Trump after immunity ruling: Harris

After Trump tried to claim the criminal cases against him were solely the result of weaponization of law enforcement, Harris turned to the Supreme Court's recent ruling on presidential immunity.

"What it would mean if Donald Trump were back in the White House, with no guard rails," she said. "Certainly, now we know the court won't stop him, we know JD Vance is not going to stop him. It's up to the American people to stop him."

Sep 10, 2024, 9:44 PM EDT

Harris is succeeding in getting Trump off policy attacks

Harris hasn't sparked any major blowups by Trump yet, but she is getting him off his policy attacks.

Instead of hitting Harris on inflation and immigration, Trump has spent time defending his rallies and promoting false claims of migrants in Springfield, Ohio, about eating neighbors' pets.

Sep 10, 2024, 9:41 PM EDT

CLAIM: 'If Donald Trump were to be reelected, he will sign a national abortion ban.'

Fact Check: False.

Trump has said he has “no regrets” in selecting the Supreme Court justices who overturned the constitutional right to an abortion. But he also repeatedly has promised that if elected, he will not sign a federal abortion ban into law and will leave the issue up to the states.

One open question this year had been whether he would enforce the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that prohibits mailing materials used in abortions. Among other things, the law would make it illegal to ship the drug mifepristone, which is used to terminate early pregnancies. The Biden administration has said the law is unenforceable because the drug has medical uses other than abortion, and it would be impossible to know how the drug was being used. Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, and other conservatives have called for the enforcement of the law.

In an August interview with CBS News, Trump said that while “we will be discussing specifics of it,” he will not enforce the Comstock Act.

Sep 10, 2024, 9:40 PM EDT

Harris brings up Trump's criminal cases

After Trump railed against crime, Harris said she thought the comments were "so rich" coming from someone who has been criminally charged multiple times.

Trump has denied all wrongdoing in each of the cases. He responded by continuing to claim, without evidence, the cases are an example of weaponization of the Department of Justice.

After Trump railed against crime, Harris said she thought the comments were "so rich" coming from someone who has been criminally charged multiple times.
1:17

Harris brings up Trump's criminal cases

After Trump railed against crime, Harris said she thought the comments were "so rich" coming from someone who has been criminally charged multiple times.
ABCNews.com