Trump-Harris debate updates: Candidates go on the attack in zinger-filled showdown
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.
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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.
Member of exonerated 'Central Park 5' in the spin room
New York City Councilman Yusef Salaam, a member of the exonerated "Central Park Five" who was wrongfully incarcerated in connection with a 1989 rape, is in the spin room.
Salaam, who spoke at the DNC, has been a staunch Trump opponent after the former president took out a full-page ad in several New York newspapers calling for the death penalty for the five suspects at the time.
Rep. Michael Waltz says Trump will pick back up on trade policy
Rep. Michael Waltz, a Florida Republican and veteran who serves on the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, is one of the Trump surrogates who has been circling the spin room here in Philadelphia. He focused in on Trump's trade and foreign policy, telling reporters that in a second term, Trump would pick back up on "deals [that] were moving and then were undone" to address the trade deficit with China and "undo executive orders" like the one pausing exports of liquified natural gas.
—538's Tia Yang
Harris arrives at the debate
Harris has arrived at the National Constitution Center ahead of her face-off with former President Trump.
Harris' motorcade drove past a billboard on the highway that read "VOTE TRUMP," according to ABC News' Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, who is traveling with the vice president.
-ABC News' Fritz Farrow
The debate rules: muted microphones and more
Harris selected the right podium position on stage. The two candidates will remain standing for the 90-minute debate.
There will be no opening statements, though each candidate will get two minutes at the end to give their closing arguments to the American people. Trump will offer the last closing statement after winning the coin toss.
The candidates can't bring notes on stage. Candidates will only be given a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water. They cannot interact with their campaign staff during commercial breaks.
Their microphones will only be live when it is their turn to speak and muted otherwise. Harris and Trump will get two minutes to respond to questions by the moderators and two minutes for rebuttals. They cannot ask each other questions.