Harris and Trump sparred in the high-stakes showdown.
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.
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.
It’s no accident that Harris mentioned the possibility of Putin invading Poland just now. The two states with the largest Polish American populations in the U.S. are Michigan and Wisconsin. Polish Americans are 8% of the population in those two pivotal swing states.
—538’s Nathaniel Rakich
Asked by moderator David Muir if he wants Ukraine to win in its war against Russia, Trump did not directly answer, but said that he wants the war to stop.
Pressed if he thinks it's in the United States' best interest for Ukraine to win, yes or no, Trump said, "I think it's in the U.S.' best interest to get this war finished."
Trump doesn't answer on whether Ukraine should win
Trump continues to focus much of his criticism on President Joe Biden, prompting Harris to push back that she is now his 2024 rival.
"First of all, it's important to remind the former president you're not running against Joe Biden, you're running against me," she said.
Fact check: Partly true
Vice President Harris claimed Trump would be “immune from any misconduct” and have “no guard rails” after a landmark Supreme Court decision in June. The court did rule the core powers, which include the ability to make treaties, veto bills, nominate cabinet members, appoint ambassadors, act as Commander-in-Chief of the military, and grant pardons.) The court also said that presidents enjoy “at least presumptive immunity” for other “official acts” – defined broadly as actions within the “outer perimeter” of official responsibilities but not “manifestly or palpably beyond his authority.”
While the decision is widely construed as granting broad protection for a president, the court said presidents are “not above the law” and enjoy no “absolute” immunity, leaving room for a narrow set of cases where a current or former president could face criminal prosecution. There is also no immunity for “unofficial” acts, the court said.
Trump faces a pair of active federal criminal cases against him brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith. The Supreme Court decision does not mean those prosecutions cannot move forward, but it has significantly delayed proceedings and made it more difficult to convict Trump. If he were to win a second term, Trump’s Justice Department could dismiss the Special Counsel and effectively end the cases against him.
