Trump-Harris debate updates: Candidates go on attack in zinger-filled showdown

Fact check: Mostly false.

There was an 18-month period that saw no combat deaths in Afghanistan, but it spanned between Biden and Trump’s presidency in February of 2020 through August of 2021. So it's misleading to suggest Trump oversaw that period alone. Pentagon records show that at least 65 American troops were killed in action during Trump’s term, including 12 hostile deaths in Afghanistan during his last 18 months of his presidency.

Fact check: Partly true

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.

Trump defended his administration's role in negotiating with the Taliban in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and instead slammed the Biden administration for their handling of the final days of the war.

"We did have an agreement negotiated by Mike Pompeo, it was a very good agreement. The reason it was good, it was -- we were getting out. We would have been out faster than that, but we wouldn't have lost the soldiers, we wouldn't have left many Americans behind," he said.

3:54

Trump defends negotiations with Taliban in Afghanistan withdrawal

Trump defended his administration's role in negotiating with the Taliban in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and instead slammed the Biden administration.

ABCNews.com

ABC News' David Muir asked the vice president if she felt she bore any responsibility in the way the withdrawal in Afghanistan played out. Thirteen U.S. service members were killed in a suicide bombing at the Kabul international airport.

Harris started her response by defending the administration's decision to end America's longest war.

She then turned to criticizing Trump for the way he negotiated a peace plan with the Taliban that included a date of May 1, 2021, for the final withdrawal of troops -- which President Joe Biden then continued to carry out with a September deadline.