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, 10:21 PM EDT

CLAIM: Trump said he lost the 2020 election on a 'technicality' because judges determined he lacked standing in election lawsuits.

Fact Check: False.

Trump lost the 2020 election after Biden won 306 electoral votes, compared to Trump’s 232 electoral votes.

After losing the 2020 election, Trump and his allies filed more than 60 lawsuits to challenge the outcome of the election – the overwhelming majority of which were dismissed or dropped. Many of the cases were dismissed because the plaintiffs in the cases could not prove a strong enough connection to the action they were challenging. Not having “standing” is a common and legally justifiable reason for a case to be dismissed.

Sep 10, 2024, 10:20 PM EDT

Swing states have lots of Polish Americans

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

Sep 10, 2024, 10:18 PM EDT

Trump doesn't answer on whether Ukraine should win

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."

Asked by moderator David Muir if he wants Ukraine to win against Russia, Trump did not directly answer but said that he wants the war to stop.
8:50

Trump doesn't answer on whether Ukraine should win

Asked by moderator David Muir if he wants Ukraine to win against Russia, Trump did not directly answer but said that he wants the war to stop.
ABCNews.com

Sep 10, 2024, 10:16 PM EDT

As Trump attacks Biden, Harris tells him: 'You're running against me'

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.