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

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris during an ABC News presidential debate, Sept. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia.
4:48
Getty Images
Highlights from Harris and Trump presidential debate
By Alexandra Hutzler, Meredith Deliso, Ivan Pereira, Emily Chang, Brittany Gaddy
Last Updated: September 11, 2024, 4:43 AM

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.

Latest headlines:

  • 'Wasn’t even close': Biden reacts to debate
  • Over half of debate watchers think Harris won: Poll
  • Key takeaways from the Harris-Trump debate
  • Harris proposes 2nd debate, Trump doesn't immediately commit
  • Harris tells watch party: 'We are still the underdogs in this race'
Here's how the news is developing:

Pinned
Sep 11, 2024 4:12 AM

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.


Pinned
Sep 11, 2024 3:17 AM

CLAIM: 'As of today, there is not one member of the United States military who is an active duty in a combat zone, in any war zone around the world, the first time this century.'

Fact check: False

Harris appears to be using a narrow definition of what constitutes a combat zone, because there are U.S. military troops in the Middle East who have come under deadly fire over the last year.

There are currently 2,500 U.S. military troops in Iraq and more than 900 U.S. military personnel in Syria who are on a mission to support local forces to prevent a resurgence by ISIS. While the troops in both countries are mostly involved in an advisory role some of them are also engaged in risky counterterrorism missions against ISIS.

But the real threat to these troops over the past year were the repeated attacks against U.S. bases in both countries by Iranian-backed militia groups that launched more than 170 rocket and drone attacks. But it was an attack on a U.S. base in neighboring Jordan this past January that has proven to be the most costly. Three U.S. Soldiers were killed and 34 others were wounded when a drone launched by those militia groups made it past air defense systems. That attack led the Biden administration to order large-scale retaliatory airstrikes against the Iranian-backed militia groups.


Sep 11, 2024 4:43 AM

'Wasn’t even close': Biden reacts to debate

President Joe Biden reacted to the debate in a post on X early Wednesday morning.

"America got to see tonight the leader I've been proud to work alongside for three and a half years. Wasn't even close," he said.

America got to see tonight the leader I've been proud to work alongside for three and a half years. Wasn't even close. VP Harris proved she's the best choice to lead our nation forward. We're not going back.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 11, 2024

Biden was in New York City during the debate and will be attending the 9/11 memorial services at Ground Zero later in the day.


Sep 11, 2024 4:41 AM

Over half of debate watchers think Harris won: Poll

A majority of debate watchers think Harris won the debate against Trump, according to a poll taken by CNN and SSRS after the debate.

On who won the debate, 63% of debate watchers said Harris and 37% said Trump.

The poll has a margin of error of +/- 5.3% points.

CNN said that before the debate, respondents were split 50%-50% on who would win.

In June, their instant poll found that among debate watchers, 33% thought Biden won and 67% thought Trump won.

-ABC News' Oren Oppenheim


Sep 11, 2024 4:40 AM

Key takeaways from the Harris-Trump debate

Harris put Trump on the defensive early on, claiming viewers were "going to hear from the same old, tired playbook, a bunch of lies, grievances and name-calling." She later took digs at his rallies and was the first to bring up his multiple indictments.

Meanwhile, Trump tried to tie Harris to President Joe Biden as often as he could. "She is Biden," he said as he criticized their economic record.

Harris' gender was not broached during the debate, though her race was. Trump doubled down on false claims about her racial identity, though he said he "couldn't care less."

Read more about the debate highlights here.



Sep 11, 2024 4:11 AM

Best zingers from the Harris-Trump ABC News debate

During the Harris-Trump face-off, both candidates tried to score points by slinging barbs at each other.

Here are some of their sharp jabs:

Trump: “Wait a minute, I'm talking now, if you don't mind, please. Does that sound familiar?”

Harris: “Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people.”

Harris: “He talks about fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter.”

Read more zingers here.


Sep 11, 2024 3:17 AM

CLAIM: 'As of today, there is not one member of the United States military who is an active duty in a combat zone, in any war zone around the world, the first time this century.'

Fact check: False

Harris appears to be using a narrow definition of what constitutes a combat zone, because there are U.S. military troops in the Middle East who have come under deadly fire over the last year.

There are currently 2,500 U.S. military troops in Iraq and more than 900 U.S. military personnel in Syria who are on a mission to support local forces to prevent a resurgence by ISIS. While the troops in both countries are mostly involved in an advisory role some of them are also engaged in risky counterterrorism missions against ISIS.

But the real threat to these troops over the past year were the repeated attacks against U.S. bases in both countries by Iranian-backed militia groups that launched more than 170 rocket and drone attacks. But it was an attack on a U.S. base in neighboring Jordan this past January that has proven to be the most costly. Three U.S. Soldiers were killed and 34 others were wounded when a drone launched by those militia groups made it past air defense systems. That attack led the Biden administration to order large-scale retaliatory airstrikes against the Iranian-backed militia groups.


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