This live event has ended. See full unbiased analysis of the debate here.
(NewsNation) — Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump faced each other for the first time in a debate with fewer than 60 days left until the election in November.
Harris and Trump have traded jabs at events and in interviews, but this was the first face-to-face contest between the two since Harris was nominated after President Joe Biden, the presumed Democratic nominee, bowed out of the race.
This debate followed the same rules as the debate between Trump and Biden earlier this year, after which Biden stepped away from seeking reelection. The candidates were not allowed notes or props, had their microphones muted between questions and there was no live audience.
Follow our live coverage below:
Candidates shook hands on stage
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump shook hands after they were introduced on stage tonight. This ended an eight-year streak of no handshakes on the presidential debate stage.
The nominees met for the first time tonight.
Can Americans afford the cost of tariffs?
Trump denied his tariffs would raise costs for consumers, though multiple studies have shown that American importers who pay the tariffs levied on foreign-made goods usually pass that added cost along rather than absorbing it.
When asked about the Biden administration’s decision to keep some of Trump’s tariffs, Harris said Trump left the country with a trade deficit and accused Trump of selling the U.S. out when it comes to supplying computer chips that China used to update its military.
She said the focus needs to be on supporting America’s workforce, protecting worker’s rights and making sure the U.S. wins the technological race against China.
Trump said China bought chips from Taiwan, not the U.S., before accusing Harris of not having a plan, saying she reversed all her former positions and calling her a Marxist.
He then pivoted again to the border, citing immigration numbers not backed up by data.
Are you better off than you were four years ago?
Harris avoided directly answering the question, but spoke to her background as a middle-class American, contrasting that with Trump’s privileged upbringing.
She brought up the rising cost of housing, the difficulties families face in paying for child care and her passion for supporting small businesses. The vice president brought up her proposal to give a $50,000 tax cut to small businesses getting started up.
She attacked Trump on policies she said would raise the cost of living for the middle class to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.
Trump denied having a sales tax, characterizing his proposed tariffs as those that would be paid by other countries like China and not be passed on to consumers. Tariffs are typically paid by American importers, and studies have found the cost is usually passed on to consumers.
Trump then pivoted to immigration, accusing immigrants of taking jobs from the Black community and unions, suggesting immigrants are taking over towns in America. He characterized immigrants as criminals before saying he created the best economy ever.
Harris rebutted by noting that when Trump left office with high levels of unemployment, a global pandemic and said Trump left America with the “worst attack on democracy since the Civil War.”
She accused Trump of using the same playbook of “lies” and grievances and tied Trump to the policy proposal Project 2025, which has been highly controversial before pledging to be a president who brings people together.
Trump denied any connection to Project 2025, saying he has not read it, though some of the authors have ties to his previous administration or campaign. He claimed the stock market was higher after the pandemic and said the U.S. made ventilators for “the entire world.”
Harris said Trump “has no plan” and noted that economists have said his proposed policies would raise inflation, resulting in higher living costs for Americans.
Trump then claimed Harris copied Biden’s plan for the economy, which he dismissed as “four sentences” long.
Debate delays
As Trump and Harris prepare to debate for the first and possibly only time, the ABC News Presidential Debate began with a delay.
Set to start at 9 pm ET, the broadcast lagged for a minute before the debate began with an overview of the rules the two candidates would be following, including muted microphones.
RFK Jr.: Not worried about election outcome
Former Independent presidential candidate turned Trump supporter Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told NewsNation’s Leland Vittert he was not worried about the outcome of the election because he was watching polling data that he said showed Trump as a clear winner.
Lara Trump: Melania posted video on assassination attempt on her own
Lara Trump told NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo that former first lady Melania Trump posted a video questioning the assassination attempt on her husband “of her own accord.”
Lara Trump said nobody on the campaign knew the former first lady was going to post the video, where she suggested there was more to the story and asked why law enforcement did not arrest the suspect before he shot at Trump during a Pennsylvania rally.
‘Stick to the facts’
NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo advises both candidates to stick to the facts during the debate rather than resorting to exaggeration or peddling rumors.
The campaign has been marked by false or misleading claims, as well as remarks intended to inflame emotion among voters, but Cuomo says the way to win in November is for Harris and Trump to speak about facts and let the voters decide.
Debate rules remain unchanged
The same debate rules applied during the CNN debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump earlier this year will be in place tonight. Read more about that here.
RFK Jr. on the Democratic party
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told NewsNation’s Leland Vittert that attempts to use his endorsement of Trump as a way to turn voters away from Trump is failing based on polling data.
He also pointed to Harris’ endorsements from figures such as Dick Cheney as evidence the Democratic party has changed and is no longer the party his father represented.
Rick Scott: Let Harris talk
Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott told NewsNation’s Kellie Meyer that his advice is to let Harris show voters who she is, calling the vice president a “socialist.”
Kristi Noem on Trump, Harris
NewsNation’s Kellie Meyer spoke to Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem ahead of the debate. Noem said she has no advice for Trump, an experienced debater, but said she expects Harris to fall back on her gender and Trump needs to stick to facts.
“I just think she’ll pay the woman card. She’s going to try to act like a victim and she’s going to try to act like he’s being inappropriate, and he needs to be strong and factual,” Noem said.
She also accused Harris of changing her policies in recent days, but says she hopes the vice president won’t get under Trump’s skin and he’ll show voters who he is.
“She’ll have some zingers that she wants to see in the headlines tomorrow and that she’ll want the media to talk about,” Noem said. “My hope is that he will be concise enough that we’ll be able to see and the American people at home watching this debate will see how different their life will be with different leaders.”
Trump allies deplane in Philadelphia
As former President Donald Trump exited his plane in Philadelphia, he was accompanied by allies and family. Here are some who were spotted leaving the flight:
- Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
- Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz
- Political activist Laura Loomer
- Daughter-in-law Lara Trump
- Son Eric Trump
- Campaign advisor Alina Habba
- Political consultant Chris LaCivita
- Campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung
- Campaign advisor Susie Wiles
- Political advisor Stephen Miller
- Political strategist Boris Epshteyn
- Trump aide Margo Martin
- Communications advisor Jason Miller
- Political commentator Corey Lewandowski
- Trump aide Natalie Harp
Policy vs. personality
While both candidates will be pushing their policies ahead of the election and looking to hit their opponent on changing policy stances, some of the biggest debate moments in history have showcased candidates’ personalities.
Both Harris and Trump will also be looking to show voters they are likable and relatable. While muted microphones will limit unscripted moments of interaction, viewers will be watching for moments when their personalities come through and give a sense of who they are as well as what they stand for.
Trump leads in debate experience
While this will be Vice President Kamala Harris’ first presidential debate of the 2024 election, it will be former President Donald Trump’s second time. Combined with his debates in previous campaigns, Trump is taking the stage with an advantage in experience.
The former president scored a win in the first debate against President Joe Biden, eventually leading to Biden’s decision to drop out of the race.
Now, he’ll be looking to repeat his success against Harris, who has energized the Democratic party and garnered support from some Republicans who have turned away from Trump’s camp.
Candidates debate as ABC remains dark on DirecTV
As Harris and Trump prepare to face each other for the first time in a debate, with fewer than 60 days to go before the election, millions of DirecTV customers will be unable to tune in to watch directly on ABC.
The ABC News Presidential Debate will be simulcast on other channels, including NewsNation, but the broadcast is the latest casualty in a carriage dispute between Disney and DirecTV.
Customers have already found the airwaves dark for college football and NFL games, with this political match also one customers will need to scramble to watch elsewhere.
Kamala Harris spin room
A team of elected officials and campaign surrogates for the vice president are expected to appear in the spin room following the debate:
- North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper
- New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom
- Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
- Brigadier General Steve Anderson (Ret.)
- California Sen. Laphonza Butler
- Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth
- Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy
- Colorado Rep. Jason Crow
- Texas Rep. Veronica Escobar
- California Rep. Robert Garcia
- California Rep. Ted Lieu
- Former Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond
- Reproductive Freedom for All President & CEO Mini Timmaraju
- Gold Star Father Khizr Khan
What topics will Trump and Harris discuss?
The questions for the debate haven’t been released, but some top issues from the campaign season are expected to be raised by both candidates.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Harris on the border and the economy, attempting to tie her to policies instituted by the Biden administration. He can be expected to continue the attacks.
Harris can be expected to raise the issue of reproductive rights, including abortion access and access to IVF, and Trump’s connection to the controversial Project 2025, as she has done previously during her campaign.