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, 10:04 PM EDT

Harris adopts Biden's view on Israel-Gaza, says war must end

The Israel-Hamas war is one of the most politically divisive issues for Democrats, and Harris has largely adopted President Joe Biden's stance on the issue in trying to balance unwavering support for Israel's security while also condemning the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

"It must end immediately, and the way it will end is we need a cease-fire deal and we need the hostages. And so we will continue to work around the clock on that," Harris said.
6:35

Harris adopts Biden's view on Israel-Gaza, says war must end

"It must end immediately, and the way it will end is we need a cease-fire deal and we need the hostages. And so we will continue to work around the clock on that," Harris said.
ABCNews.com

"What we know is that this war must end," she said. "It must end immediately, and the way it will end is we need a cease-fire deal and we need the hostages. And so we will continue to work around the clock on that."

Sep 10, 2024, 10:00 PM EDT

Trump says he completely shut down the Nord Stream 2 pipeline

Fact Check: Mostly false

The Nord Stream 2 is an undersea pipeline that would have allowed Russia to increase natural gas exports to western Europe while bypassing Ukraine and depriving Kyiv billions of dollars in access fees. It’s true that in 2019, Trump announced sanctions that halted the pipeline’s construction. But by that point, the pipeline was nearly complete with a majority of the project occurring under Trump’s presidency, according to a 2020 analysis by the Congressional Research Service. Biden later waived sanctions against the pipeline’s builder at the request of Germany in 2021, but reimposed penalties the following year as Russia invaded Ukraine.

Sep 10, 2024, 9:59 PM EDT

Trump refuses to concede he lost 2020 election

Trump refuted recent his recent remarks in which he appeared to accept he lost the 2020 election, including a comment that he "lost by a whisker."

"I said that?" Trump said.

"Are you now acknowledging that you lost in 2020?" ABC News moderator David Muir asked.

"No I don’t acknowledge that at all," he said. "That was said sarcastically."

Sep 10, 2024, 9:56 PM EDT

Harris touts her GOP support

Harris raised that she has the endorsement of more than 200 Republicans, including former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Trump staffers.

"If you want to really know the inside track on who the former president is, if he didn't make it clear already, just ask people who have worked with him," she said, noting that his former national security adviser said he is "dangerous and unfit."

Trump responded that he "fired most of those people."