Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are meeting for the first time on Tuesday for the ABC News presidential debate.
It is the only debate the two have scheduled and comes at a critical point as polls show a neck-and-neck race with just eight weeks until Election Day.
The two will face off on key issues and work to appeal to voters across the country. The debate is airing on ABC and streaming on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu.
We're obviously going to hear about a lot of different issues tonight — and some of those issues will be comfortable ground for Trump, while others will be Harris' home turf. The latest ABC News/Ipsos poll asked Americans whether they trusted Trump or Harris more to handle 11 different issues. Harris was trusted more on six, Trump was trusted more on four, and one (crime and safety) was tied.
Harris also had the biggest trust advantage on any issue: 16 points, on both abortion and race relations. However, Trump was trusted more than Harris on the three issues that Americans usually say are the most important to their vote: the economy, inflation and immigration.
—538's Nathaniel Rakich
9 hours and 11 minutes ago
Melania Trump not in attendance at debate
Members of the Trump family attending the debate with him tonight are his son Eric Trump and his son's wife -- and co-chair of the Republican National Committee -- Lara Trump, sources familiar with the matter tell ABC News. Melania Trump is not there.
On the plane with him from Florida to Philadelphia were Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who have been helping Trump with debate prep. Also on board -- one of his lawyers, Alina Habba, as well as senior staffers Chris LaCivita, Susie Wiles, Steven Cheung, Corey Lewandowski and Jason Miller.
Rep. Matt Gaetz and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard step off the plane after former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrived in Philadelphia, Sept. 10, 2024.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images
Notably, controversial conservative media influencer Laura Loomer was also flying with Trump. Loomer has pushed multiple conspiracy theories about Harris, including racist and sexist attacks on the vice president.
-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa and Katherine Faulders
9 hours and 25 minutes ago
Trump arrives in Philadelphia
Trump landed at Philadelphia International Airport a short while ago for the debate. He could be seen raising his fist as he departed his plane.
Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump steps off his plane upon arrival at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, on Sept. 10, 2024.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images
9 hours and 9 minutes ago
Memorable moments from debates past
It's a hallmark of the American electoral process: the presidential debate.
The first nationally televised debate in history featured John Kennedy and Richard Nixon. The visuals did not play in Nixon's favor, as he was seen sweating and looking pale after previously being hospitalized for an infection, while Kennedy looked young and gave a more vigorous performance.
Republican vice president Richard Nixon and democratic senator John F. Kennedy take part in a televised debate during their presidential campaign in 1960.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
More than 20 years later, Ronald Reagan, the oldest sitting president at the time, shut down some questions about his age during his debate with Democrat Walter Mondale.
President Reagan and Democratic candidate for President, Walter Mondale, shake hands as they greet one another before the start of their debate in Louisville, Ky on Oct. 7, 1984.
Brettmann/Getty Images
In 1992's trilateral debate, President George H.W. Bush was criticized for looking down at his watch. In 2000, Al Gore was mocked for his audible sighs during his debate with George W. Bush.
President George H.W. Bush looks at his watch during the 1992 presidential campaign debate with other candidates, Independent Ross Perot, top, and Democrat Bill Clinton, at the University of Richmond, Va. on Oct. 15, 1992.
Ron Edmonds/AP
In the 2020 Democratic primary, one highlight was Harris' challenge to Joe Biden on the issue of segregation and busing, which prompted her viral quote, "That little girl was me."
People watch the CNN presidential debate between Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden at a watch party at The Continental Club on June 27, 2024 in Los Angeles.
Mario Tama/Getty Images, FILE
Most recently, the debate between President Biden and Trump changed the course of the 2024 campaign after Biden's poor performance exacerbated Democratic and voter concerns about his age and fitness to serve another four years. He announced he was exiting the race 24 days later.
