Trump-Harris debate highlights: Trump falls into Harris’s traps as he lies about abortion and ‘eating pets’

Donald Trump appeared to fall apart in his first head-to-head debate with Kamala Harris in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening, providing rambling answers on illegal immigration, abortion and the economy and taking the bait whenever he was goaded by his opponent.

The candidates shared an unexpected handshake as they took to the stage, with Harris introducing herself and catching the Republican off guard.

When the debate got underway, Trump went off on wild, yet familiar tangents about his rally crowd sizes, the whereabouts of Joe Biden and recently debunked claims accusing Haitian immigrants of stealing and eating domestic pets in Springfield, Ohio.

Harris, meanwhile, used her time to cycle through Trump’s legacy of racist attacks, professional falings and his culpability for the Capitol riot.

Shortly after the combative, 90-minute encounter wrapped, Trump was dealt another blow when pop superstar Taylor Swift formally announced she is endorsing Harris.

Swift, who carries enormous sway with younger voters, supported the Democratic ticket in 2020 and said in an Instagram post that Harris “fights for the rights and causes I believe in” before signing off as “Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady”, invoking a notorious remark by Trump’s deputy JD Vance.

Key Points

• Who won the ABC presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump?

• Out-of-control Trump brings up debunked claims about Haitian immigrants eating pets

• Taylor Swift officially endorses Harris for president

• Analysis: Trump did everything wrong – and gave Harris everything she needs to beat him

• Presidential debate schedule: Will there be a second matchup between Harris and Trump?

Recap: Harris baits Trump in pivotal debate as he loses control and lies about immigrants ‘eating pets’ and abortion

08:10 , Joe Sommerlad

If you’re just joining us, Vice President Kamala Harris got the best of Donald Trump in their long-awaited clash on the presidential debate stage in Philadelphia, goading and baiting him into anger by saying his supporters regularly left his rallies early due to “exhaustion and boredom”.

The Republican reacted bitterly to that, insisting on the entertainment value of his events while falsely claiming that the Democrat has to “bus” people into hers, declaring: “People don’t leave my rallies. We have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics.”

Trump also raised eyebrows with a heated answer on immigration, repeating an already-debunked online conspiracy theory claiming that Haitian immigrants had been eating stolen domestic pets in a small town in Ohio: “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.”

For her part, Harris’s best answer came on the subject of abortion when she warned: “Trump abortion bans that make no exception even for rape and incest.

“Understand what that means. A survivor of a crime, a violation of their body, does not have the right to make a decision about what happens to their body next. That is immoral.”

Her opponent argued that Democrats were in favor of abortion after birth but was sharply corrected by ABC moderator Linsey Davis, who told him: “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.”

Trump was also corrected on urban crime statistics, leading him to attack the FBI, and was grilled on his past comments on Harris’s race, backing down on his suggestion that she only recently “happened to turn Black” by saying he “couldn’t care less” and that how she identified was up to her.

Harris chuckled, grinned, rolled her eyes and offered an incredulous squint to many of his answers but also got tough, telling Trump that military leaders he worked with now consider him “a disgrace”, that she has 200 Republicans backing her candidacy in opposition to him, that he had been “fired by 81 million people” in 2020 and that he “would rather run on a problem than fix a problem.”

Harris had opened by outlining the “mess” the Joe Biden administration had inherited from Trump after taking office in the wake of the Capitol riot and ended by contrasting her bright vision for America’s future with Trump’s apocalyptic rhetoric doing the country down.

But perhaps her best attack line of the evening was this: “He talks about fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter. He will talk about how windmills cause cancer… The one thing you will not hear him talk about is you.”

Here’s Alex Woodward on an extraordinary night in Philadelphia.

Unhinged Trump goes off the rails as Harris focuses on policy in 2024 debate

Elon Musk sends creepy response to Taylor Swift over Harris endorsement

11:10 , Joe Sommerlad

This was how a baffled and tired-looking Trump reacted to the news that the pop megastar would be backing Harris-Walz, making a nonsense of his dodgy “Swifties for Trump” AI memes.

Much worse was this creepy post from Musk:

Here’s Mike Bedigan’s report on arguably one of the most significant developments of the night.

Taylor Swift endorses Harris after debate and calls herself ‘childless cat lady’

Snap poll after debate reveals state of presidential race between Trump and Harris

10:50 , Joe Sommerlad

According to a CNN flash poll conducted by SSRS in the immediate aftermath of last night’s action, 44 per cent of registered voters who tuned in to the ABC News debate said Harris better understands the problems facing regular Americans today, while 40 per cent backed Trump.

Harris’s favorability also rose after the debate, with 45 per cent saying they view her favorably compared to 39 per cent before the two candidates took to the stage.

However, a significant 44 per cent of registered voters said they view her unfavorably in the aftermath of the debate.

By contrast, voters’ opinions of Trump were largely unchanged, with 39 per cent rating him favorably and 51 per cent unfavorably.

Myriam Page has more.

Snap poll after debate reveals state of presidential race between Trump and Harris

Lindsey Graham admits debate was a ‘disaster’ for Trump

10:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The South Carolina Senator had this frank admission to make in the spin room afterwards…

…which contrasts rather sharply with what he’s been saying in public.

This is more like the sort of message you’d hope to hear from your backers after a debate like that.

Where’s Melania Trump? Former first lady notably missing as MAGA entourage flocks to presidential debate

10:10 , Joe Sommerlad

You know who was on Trump’s jet when it touched down in Philadelphia yesterday?

His daughter-in-law and Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, his lawyer Alina Habba, his campaign co-chairs Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, his spokesperson Steven Cheung, senior advisor Corey Lewandowski, his son Eric Trump, former Democratic Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Florida Representative Matt Gaetz and Trump’s bag man Walt Nauta and, er, far-right activist Laura Loomer.

You know who wasn’t?

Melania.

Here’s more from James Liddell.

Where’s Melania Trump? Former first lady notably missing from presidential debate

Trump ‘got his clock cleaned’ on debate floor, says Californa governor

09:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Gavin Newsom, tipped by many as a future Democratic presidential contender, clearly enjoyed that immensely.

He characterises Trump’s attempt to dominate the spin room as “an act of desperation”.

Celebrities react to the Trump-Harris debate: ‘She crushed him’

09:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s Greg Evans on how Trump enemies Bette Midler, Mark Hamill and others reacted to last night’s bout in Philadelphia.

Hard to disagree with Nick Offerman’s assessment that it amounted to “a good old-fashioned a**-whupping.”

Celebrities react to the Trump-Harris debate: ‘She crushed him’

Watch: Tim Walz says Trump ‘like an old man shouting at the clouds’ during debate

09:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Truth Social: Trump gaslights with claims of ‘big win’ in ‘three on one’ brawl

08:50 , Joe Sommerlad

As you may not be surprised to learn, Trump is coping with the debate by declaring victory with a string of memes and partisan opinion polls and claiming it was a “three on one” contest, implying that ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis were biased against him.

He also posted this spurious video about a woman supposedly eating a cat in Ohio to back up his latest absurd attack.

Trump takes to spin room to tells reporters it was ‘best debate’ he’s ever had

08:30 , Joe Sommerlad

In the media spin room at the National Constitution Center immediately after the debate, Donald Trump broke with custom to make a personal appearance, rather than leave the messaging to his surrogates, insisting this was “the best debate” he’s ever had and claiming Harris “got beaten.”

Responding to Democratic calls for a second debate, Trump said: “They immediately called for a second debate because they lost.”

The BBC’s veteran reporter Gary O’Donoghue suggested, on the contrary, that the Republican’s appearance in the room indicated he knew the night had gone badly for him.

Our own John Bowden on the ground in Philly had this to add on Trump’s surprise run-in with a member of the Central Park Five:

“A stunning moment occurred in the spin room after the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on Tuesday evening as the former president himself made his way to the spin room to address the assembled media covering the night.

“Trump, surrounded on all sides by reporters and a ring of Secret Service agents, came face-to-face with New York City Councilman Yusef Salaam – none other than a member of the Central Park Five, an exonerated group of young men accused and later cleared of murder charges whom the former president had publicly called to be executed in a full-page newspaper ad.

“Two reporters questioned whether Trump had anything to say to Salaam, who stared into the face of the former president as the cameras rolled.

“Trump, with a laughing smile on his face, quipped that Salaam ‘must’ be ‘on my side’ – a remark that drew a startled laugh from not just Salaam but the reporters around him as well, before Salaam said ‘no’ and Trump nodded, still laughing, and turned his back to him.”

Here’s Rhian Lubin’s report on his ill-advised attempt to try to stage manage the reaction to his performance.

Trump claims it was his ‘best debate ever’ as he rushes to spin room

Inside the Young Republicans debate watch party where there’s a clear message for Trump: Cool it

07:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Several young GOP and independent voters told Katie Hawkinson last night that they hoped their candidate would calm down his rhetoric — even as they plan to vote for him come November.

Young Republicans have a clear message for Trump after the debate: Cool it

Debate reaction: 'You don’t want a president of the United States who can’t control his mind’

07:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s a quick look at some of the reaction to last night’s debate from America’s pundits.

On CNN, Chris Wallace said the candidates’ clash in Philadelphia was as bad for Trump as his appearance in Atlanta on June 27 was for Joe Biden, adding that Harris had left Trump looking old.

On MSNBC, Joy Reid, relishing every moment, said Trump “got destroyed because he can’t control his mind and you don’t want a president of the United States who can’t control his mind”.

Republican pollster Frank Luntz told the BBC: “This was not Donald Trump’s finest hour” and said he would have graded him a D+ and the Democrat a B-.

And on Trump’s home turf, Fox News, Brit Hume said: “Make no mistake about it, Trump had a bad night.

“We heard so many of the old grievances that we long thought that Trump had learned were not winners, politically.”

Blimey.

Morning Joe hosts mock Vance’s ‘obsession’ with cats after he spreads pet-eating immigrant conspiracy

07:00 , James Liddell

Morning Joe hosts have mocked JD Vance’s cat “obsession” after the Ohio senator pushed a bizarre conspiracy theory that immigrants are stealing and eating pets.

Vance is among the most vocal Republican voices peddling baseless claims that Haitians are roaming across his state to steal, kill, and finally devour cats and other domesticated animals.

“Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio,” Vance wrote on X on Monday.

READ MORE:

Morning Joe hosts mock Vance’s ‘cat obsession’ after his pet-eating immigrant rumor

Maga PAC decries Trump-Harris debate as ‘rigged’

05:50 , Mike Bedigan

An email sent out by Maga PAC, a major Trump campaign fundraiser, described the debate as “rigged.”

“Tonight’s ABC debate was nothing short of rigged and a slap in the face to the American people who want to hear how crime and inflation will be tackled- not climate change,” the press release said.

“While Kamala peddled lie after lie, President Trump stood strong for truth and exposed Kamala’s socialist record.”

Biden weighs in on debate: ‘Wasn’t even close'

05:35 , Mike Bedigan

Joe Biden has weighed in on the debate between his Democratic successor and former rival, saying that the result “wasn’t even close.”

“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 wrote on X.

“VP Harris proved she’s the best choice to lead our nation forward. We’re not going back.”

Watch: Central Park 5 member confronts Trump face to face at debate

05:25 , Mike Bedigan

CNN poll shows over 60 per cent of voters think Harris performed better that Trump

05:16 , Mike Bedigan

A CNN poll of debate watchers has found that 63 per cent believe that Kamala Harris outperformed Donald Trump on Tuesday night in Philadelphia.

Some 37 per cent favored the former president, according to the poll, which was conducted by SSRS on behalf of the network.

Prior to the debate, the same voters were evenly split on which candidate would perform more strongly, with 50 per cent saying Harris would do so and 50 per cent that Trump would, according to CNN.

The results mark a significant flip from June, when voters who tuned in for the debate between Trump and Joe Biden said, 67 per cent to 33 per cent, that Trump outperformed his Democratic rival.

Analysis: Trump did everything wrong — and gave Harris everything she needs to beat him

05:07 , Mike Bedigan

The vice president gave her opponent everything he needed to doom his debate performance and Andrew Feinberg provides analysis of Donald Trump’s poor showing in Philadelphia.

Read the full analysis here:

Trump did everything wrong - and gave Harris everything she needs to beat him

Watch: Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris following debate

05:01 , Mike Bedigan

Who won the presidential debate?

04:50 , Mike Bedigan

The fiery presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris painted the picture of a scorned former president who wants to return to his era and a hopeful Vice President desperate for a different future.

Ultimately, the former president’s rambling answers, repeated blatant falsehoods and consistent interruption hurt him on Tuesday night.

But who “won”? Ariana Baio investigates:

Who won the presidential debate? Harris laughed, Trump spiraled

Trump himself address reporters in the spin-room

04:47 , Mike Bedigan

From The Independent’s John Bowden on the ground in Philadelphia:

“A stunning moment occurred in the spin room after the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on Tuesday evening as the former president himself made his way to the spin room to address the assembled media covering the night.

“Trump, surrounded on all sides by reporters and a ring of Secret Service agents, came face-to-face with New York City Councilman Yusef Salaam — none other than a member of the Central Park Five, an exonerated group of young men accused and later cleared of murder charges whom the former president had publicly called to be executed in a full-page newspaper ad.

“Two reporters questioned whether Trump had anything to say to Salaam, who stared into the face of the former president as the cameras rolled.

“Trump, with a laughing smile on his face, quipped that Salaam ‘must’ be ‘on my side’ — a remark that drew a startled laugh from not just Salaam but the reporters around him as well, before Salaam said ‘no’ and Trump nodded, still laughing, and turned his back to him.”

Full story: Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris after presidential debate: ‘She fights for the rights and causes I believe’

04:36 , Mike Bedigan

Taylor Swift has officially endorsed Kamala Harris for president, after frenzied speculation from fans.

The pop megastar, who carries enormous sway with younger voters, had not publicly announced who she would be voting for in November, though she has previously backed the Democrats.

Read the full story here:

Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris after presidential debate

Tim Walz reacts to Taylor Swift endorsement

04:17 , Mike Bedigan

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz put his hand over his heart as he was informed Taylor Swift was endorsing him and Kamala Harris.

“I am incredibly grateful to Taylor Swift, and I say that as a cat owner,” he said. “[Her statement] was eloquent and it was clear and that’s the kind of courage we need in this country.”

Taylor Swift officially endorses Harris for president

04:11 , Mike Bedigan

Taylor Swift has officially endorsed Kamala Harris for president.

In a lengthy post on Instagram, the pop megastar said that, having watched Tuesday night’s presidential debate, Harris “fights for the rights and causes I believe.”

In an apparent jab at Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance, Swift signed off her post as: “Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady.”

Gavin Newsom hails ‘a terrible night for Donald Trump'

04:02 , Mike Bedigan

Speaking in the Democrat spin room following the debate, California Governor Gavin Newsom said “there was only one commander in chief onstage.”

“It was a terrible night for donald trump... [and] a great night for democracy,” he told The Independent.

Harris campaign slams Trump as ‘angry and rattled'

03:57 , Mike Bedigan

In a statement released after the debate, the Harris campaign described Donald Trump as “totally incoherent... angry and rattled.”

“Under the bright lights, the American people got to see the choice they will face this fall at the ballot box: between moving forward with Kamala Harris, or going backwards with Trump,” said Harris-Walz Campaign Chair Jen O’Malley Dillon.

“That’s what they saw tonight and what they should see at a second debate in October. Vice President Harris is ready for a second debate. Is Donald Trump?”

Trump makes no statement in debate closing statement

03:52 , Mike Bedigan

Donald Trump made no stand-out statement in his closing remarks, instead offering a somewhat rambling rebuttal to Harris’ statement.

The former president claimed thousands of manufacturing jobs had been lost last month under the Biden-Harris administration, made reference to Biden’s alleged ties to China and Ukraine, blasting them (once) again as “crooked.”

On Harris’ policy agenda, he said: “Why hasn’t she done it? She’s been there for three and a half years.”“She should leave right now,” he said, telling Harris to go to the “beautiful” White House and force the president and members of Congress to do it. He closed predicting a third world war without him.

Harris delivers closing remarks

03:45 , Mike Bedigan

Kamala Harris was first to deliver her closing remarks, in which she reiterated her campaign promise that the America was “not going back.”

“So I think you've heard tonight, two very different and that is focused on the future, and the other that is focused on the past and an attempt to take us backward,” she said.

“But we're not going back, and I do believe that the American people know – we all have so much more in common than what separates us and we can chart a new way forward, and a vision of that includes having a plan, understanding the aspirations, the dreams, the hopes, the ambition of the American people.”

Debate moderator slams Trump’s false claim of babies being aborted after birth

03:42 , Mike Bedigan

Former president Donald Trump repeated a familiar false claim that some states allow people to obtain abortions after a baby is born on the debate stage Tuesday evening – a claim that was quickly smacked down by moderator Linsey Davis.

“[Democrats] have abortion in the ninth month,” the former president falsely stated.

Ariana Baio watched the fiery exchange live:

Debate moderator corrects Trump’s false claim babies are aborted after birth

Trump campaign releases ‘victory’ statement before debate with Harris is over

03:36 , Mike Bedigan

The Trump campaign issued a statement “on President Trump’s Debate Victory” before his high stakes debate with Kamala Harris had even finished.

“President Trump delivered a masterful debate performance tonight, prosecuting Kamala Harris’ abysmal record of failure that has hurt Americans for the last 4 years,” read the statement, sent out at 10.29pm – while the candidates were still speaking.

Harris cycles through Trump’s legacy of racist attacks

03:31 , Mike Bedigan

A question about Trump and his allies elevating bogus and racist attempts to undermine her biracial background gave Harris a chance to cycle through his legacy of racist attacks, from a federal lawsuit in the 1970s targeting alleged racial discrimination at Trump housing developments, to his latest statements about the vice president.

The Central Park Five had a speaking slot at the DNC. Trump, in 1989, took out full-page ads after they were falsely accused of raping a jogger with the headline “BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY.” Their convictions were vacated in 2002.

Trump also famously amplified a conspiracy theory that Barack Obama was not born in the US, claims that launched his political career. “I think the American people want better than that. Want better than this,” Harris said

Trump quizzed on his previous remarks about Harris’ racial identity

03:27 , Mike Bedigan

Following his controversial remarks made to National Association of Black Journalists in July, Trump was asked if it was appropriate to weigh in on the racial identity of his political opponent.

“I don't, and I don't care. I don't care what she is,” he said. “I don't care [if] you make a big deal out of something. I couldn't care less. Whatever she wants to be is okay with me, but those were your words.

“So no, I mean, all I could say is I read somewhere she was not black... and then I read that she was black, and that's okay, either one was okay with me. That's up to her.”

Harris, who has previously refused to address the remarks, responded: “Honestly, I think it's a tragedy that we have someone who wants to be president who has, consistently, over the course of his career, attempted to use race to divide the American people.”

When does the presidential debate end?

03:22 , Mike Bedigan

The candidates have been onstage since 9pm ET (8pm CT).

The debate was expected to last 90 minutes, finishing around 10.30pm ET (9.30pm)... so not long to go now.

Trump rambles on ending the war in Ukraine by sitting down with Putin and Zelensky

03:18 , Mike Bedigan

Asked if he wanted Ukraine to win its war against Russia, Trump replied: “I want the war to stop. I want to save lives... People being killed by the millions. It's the millions. It's so much worse than the numbers that you're getting, which are fake numbers.

He continued: “I know [Ukrainian president Volodymyr] Zelensky very well, and I know [Russian president] Putin very well. I have a good relationship, and they respect your president. Okay? They respect me.

“That is a war that's dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president, if I win When I'm President Elect, and what I'll do is I'll speak to one I'll speak to the other. I'll get them together, that war would have never happened.”

“We're playing with World War Three, and we have a president that we don't even know if he's. Where is our president? We don't even know if he's a president... they threw him out of the campaign like a dog.”

Responding to the rambling response, Harris said: “First of all, it's important to remind the former president, you're not running against Joe Biden, you're running against me.”

Watch: Donald Trump sasses Kamala Harris for interruption while calling her 'radical left'

03:15 , Mike Bedigan

Viewers react to debate first half

03:13 , Mike Bedigan

John Logan, a 26-year-old independent voter who attended the DC Young Republicans Watch Party, said he thinks Kamala Harris is winning the debate.

But Logan says he won’t be voting for either candidate.

“I can't really endorse either candidate fully, not with kamala's record in her past, and with Trump, the way that he incites people, I can't support them,” Logan told The Independent.

03:10 , Mike Bedigan

Alex Woodward notes:

“Trump has said he lost ‘by a whisker’ at least three times at public events within the last few weeks. At no point did it ever appear he was being sarcastic, but he has repeatedly used ‘sarcasm’ to excuse lies and attacks throughout his campaigns and presidency.

“Crucially: If he ever actually admits that he lost, that would prove a point in criminal indictments against him. At the heart of his election interference charges is that he pursued attempts to unlawfully overturn results despite knowing that he in fact had lost.”

Harris: ‘World leaders are laughing at Donald Trump'

03:03 , Mike Bedigan

Kamala Harris blasted Donald Trump’s “temperament... [and] ability”.

“Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people... let's be clear about that, and clearly he is having a very difficult time processing that.

“But we cannot afford to have a President of the United States who attempts, as he did in the past, to upend the will of the voters in a free and fair election. And I'm going to tell you that I have traveled the world as vice president, United States, and world leaders are laughing at Donald Trump.”

In his response Trump quoted Hungarian prime minister Victor Orban who, he claimed, had described him has “the most respected, most feared person.”

Watch: Trump repeats debunked cat-eating claims during debate with Harris

03:00 , Mike Bedigan

Harris appeals to voters after question about peaceful transfer of power

02:55 , Mike Bedigan

Following a question about the peaceful transference of power, Kamala Harris appealed directly to voters.

“For everyone watching, who remembers what January 6 was I say: we don't have to go back. Let's not go back. We're not going back. It's time to turn the page,” she said.

“And if that was a bridge too far for you, well, there is a place in our campaign for you to stand for country, to stand democracy, to stand for rule of law and to end the chaos and to end the approach that is about attacking the foundations of our democracy because you don't like the outcome.”

During his answer, Trump denied all involvement with the storming of the Capitol on January 6.

“I had nothing to do with that, other than they asked me to make a speech. I showed up for a speech. I said, I think it's going to be big,” he said.

Trump hits Harris with her own campaign phrase ‘I’m talking now’

02:50 , Mike Bedigan

Donald Trump hit Kamala Harris with her own words, snapping: “Wait a minute, I'm talking now, if you don't mind, please. Does that sound familiar?”

At a previous campaign rally, Harris responded to pro-Palestinian protesters by telling them “I am talking now.”

Having being given his chance to speak on Monday, an audibly flustered Trump continued: “She wants to do transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison. This is a radical left liberal that would do this.

“She wants to confiscate your guns, and she will never allow fracking in Pennsylvania.”

The Independent’s take: Harris is under Trump’s skin

02:46 , Mike Bedigan

From The Independent’s White House Correspondent Andrew Feinberg:

“Harris has checked her biggest and most important box so far — get under Trump's skin. With one line about crowd size at his rallies, she got him to launch into a bizarre rant that ended with him repeating insane claims about migrants eating dogs.

“She's clearly under his skin. And burrowing deeper.”

Trump blames Democrats for assassination attempt

02:41 , Mike Bedigan

Donald Trump accused the Democrats of being responsible for the attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania, saying: “I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things that they say about me.

“They talk about democracy, I'm a threat to democracy. They're the threat to democracy.”

Trump and Harris fact check teams in overdrive

02:37 , Mike Bedigan

Both Harris and Trump campaigns have been churning out “fact-check” emails at a rate of knots since the debate began...

Trump brings up debunked claims of pets being ‘eaten’ in Springfield, Ohio

02:34 , Mike Bedigan

After being quizzed about immigration, Donald Trump went off on a wild tangent, bringing up recently (and debunked) claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, have been abducting local pets.

“In Springfield, they're eating the dogs, the people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating they're eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what's happening in our country,” he said.

Springfield police have previously denied that any such reports have been made.

When challenged on this by the ABC moderator, Trump responded: “I saw it on television!”

Trump and Harris trade jabs in pivotal debate that will shape 2024 election

02:30 , Mike Bedigan

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have sparred over their starkly different visions of the American economy in their first-ever face-to-face meeting at a crucial debate on Tuesday night.

Harris defended her plan for “lifting up the middle class and working people” while blasting Trump’s “tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations.”

Alex Woodward is watching closely:

Trump and Harris trade jabs in pivotal debate that will shape 2024 election

Harris calls Trump’s claims on abortion ‘insulting’ to US women

02:27 , Mike Bedigan

Kamala Harris reiterated her committment to reinstating the protections of Roe v Wade and called Donald Trump’s claims “insulting to the women of America.”

“Nowhere in America is a woman carrying a pregnancy to term and asking for an abortion that is not happening. It's insulting to the women of America and understand what has been happening under Donald Trump's abortion bans.”

Trump hit back once again, that Harris’ responses were “lies.”

Watch: Harris spites Trump in first question on economy during 2024 presidential debate

02:25 , Mike Bedigan

Second topic for the candidates: Abortion

02:20 , Mike Bedigan

The next topic for the candidates is another hot button topic – abortion.

Trump has gone first, defending his oft-repeated claims that he “killed” Roe v Wade.

Harris responds: “As I said, you're going to hear a bunch of lies... Let's understand how we got here. Donald Trump hand selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v Wade, and they did exactly as he intended.

“Donald Trump certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with her body.”

In pictures: Trump v Harris

02:10 , Mike Bedigan

First question to candidates is about the economy

02:06 , Mike Bedigan

First off the candidates are quizzed on what voters have repeatedly said is their number one issue - the economy and the cost of living in this country.

Harris responds first, and followed by Trump – who claims her claims about his own policy are “false.”

Trump and Harris take to the debate stage

02:03 , Mike Bedigan

And we’re off!

The highly anticipated debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is underway in Philadelphia – their first meeting during the 2024 presidential election – and ever.

The debate, hosted by ABC, is also the first since President Joe Biden stepped down from the Democratic ticket in July, though the rules remain the same. That means muted microphones, no pre-written notes, no live audience, no sitting and no speaking with campaign staff during commercial breaks.

The two candidates shook hands before standing by their respective podiums.

Standby for updates from The Independent team.

Young Republicans gather in DC bar to watch the debate

01:55 , Mike Bedigan

A mile away from the US Capitol, Washington DC’s young Republicans are convening to watch tonight’s debate.

“Harris needs to prove that she's ready for the big league, Trump needs to prove that he’s still got it,” DC Young Republicans board member Isaac Smith told The Independent minutes before the debate.

Far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer travels with the Trumps to Philadelphia

01:50 , Mike Bedigan

Stepping off Trump’s Boeing with his campaign entourage and members of the Trump family: far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, a failed congressional candidate with a history of racist, anti-Muslim and white nationalist views and undying loyalty to Donald Trump.

Trump has rewarded her sycophancy by publicly praising her at his rallies and events, sharing her posts on his Truth Social, and reportedly considering her for a role in his potential administration.

He recently shared her posts falsely claiming that Kamala Harris is not Black, as well as her string of false- and conspiracy theory-fueled attacks against the daughter of the judge overseeing his hush money trial. This week on her podcast, she accused Harris and other prominent Black officials of using a “DEI Shaniqua” voice.

The Independent’s take: Part 2: What Harris needs to do

01:40 , Mike Bedigan

Andrew Feinberg, The Independent’s White House Correspondent, writes:

“More than one recent poll has shown a critical mass of voters saying they need to know more about Kamala Harris before they can vote for her.

“Here’s the sad truth: No one cares about vice presidents. Harris has spent the last three-plus years in a position with little formal power and not much actual codified responsibility. And she’s running against someone whose campaign has indicated a desire to tag her with every bad thing that has happened during Joe Biden’s presidency.

“Unfortunately for Trump, people know vice presidents don’t matter that much in terms of policy. And fortunately for Harris, this means she can talk about things other than policy. She can display her wit and her intelligence and her ability to be more coherent than the old man she’s running against.

“Doing that will let her give skeptical voters a sense of whether she is the sort of decisive, quick on the feet leader who can go toe-to-toe with the world’s dictators. It’s all about vibes, and she needs to keep the positive ones she’s had since becoming the nominee going strong in order to win.”