Walz-Vance debate updates: VP candidates tangle on abortion, immigration and Jan. 6

Following the debate, Vance told Fox News host Sean Hannity that he wanted to defend Trump against the “caricature" of the former president.

"One of the things I tried to do, Sean, obviously, is criticize Kamala Harris' record, but also remind the American people that Donald Trump is not the caricature that Kamala Harris and the media have made him out to be, that he was an incredibly effective president for four years in office, and he actually solved problems," Vance said.

Asked if he thought Walz looked nervous, Vance said he was nervous himself.

"It's the biggest stage of my life. So I didn't focus so much on his demeanor. I just tried to focus on what he was saying," he said. "And look, he did, to be fair to Tim Walz, he had a very tough job, and that is to defend the policies of Kamala Harris."

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa

Jen O’Malley Dillon, the campaign chair for Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign released a statement claiming that Walz won the debate.

"He spoke passionately about the Vice President’s vision for a new way forward for the country. And in what was the most critical moment of the entire debate, which came in its final exchange, he stood up for our Constitution, while JD Vance admitted he’d put Trump ahead of the country," she said.

"The Governor showed once again that he will be an experienced governing partner on day one for Vice President Harris as they work together to deliver for working families," she added.

Gov. Tim Walz and his wife Gwen Walz were seen grabbing some food at a local pizzeria near CBS Studios following the debate.

Earlier in the day, the governor went for a jog in Central Park.

“I think it was a good debate, the public got to see a contrast, and I think the ending sums it up -- the democracy issue’s important," he said after several shouted questions from press about his debate performance.

Walz then did not answer two shouted questions about his answer during the debate about befriending school shooters. He also ignored a question about whether he was in Hong Kong for the Tiananmen Square massacre.

He did, however, mumble an answer about whether he would expand upon his faith.

“We’re Lutherans, we don’t talk about it,” he laughed to Gwen.

-Isabella Murray

Following the debate, President Joe Biden said Walz proved he "has what it takes" to be the vice president.

"Trust me, I know what a good vice president looks like," Biden wrote on X. "Tonight’s debate made it clear my friend @Tim_Walz has what it takes."

Former President Donald Trump said his running mate "crushed it" on his social media platform, and his campaign said Vance "perfectly articulated" the case for a second Trump administration.