Donald Trump vs Kamala Harris debate LIVE — Ex-prez claims VP backs abortion ‘after birth’ and she doesn’t deny it
DONALD Trump claimed Kamala Harris would allow abortions in the ninth month or "after birth" if she were to become president as the pair took to the stage for their first debate on Tuesday night.
Trump laid into Harris and her running mate Tim Walz during the fiery clash, insisting the paid had radical positions on abortion.
The former president previously voted against a Florida ballot measure that would overturn the state’s six-week abortion ban.
“They have abortion in the ninth month,” Trump said of Harris' stand on the issue.
“They’re radical. The Democrats are radical in that.
“He [Tim Walz] also says execution after birth — no longer abortion because the baby is born — is OK, and that’s not OK with me, hence the vote."
When asked by ABC's moderators for her stance on abortion, Harris said, “I absolutely support reinstating the protections of Roe v. Wade.
“Nowhere in America is a woman carrying a pregnancy to term and asking for an abortion — that is not happening."
Trump then asked whether she would allow abortions in the eighth and ninth months of pregnancy but she refused to answer him further.
Abortion has become a top issue during the election after the Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade — the declaration that women have a constitutional right to have an abortion — in 2022.
The next scheduled debate will be between vice president nominees JD Vance and Tim Walz on October 1.
Read our Trump vs Harris blog for the latest updates...
Presidential prediction
The "Nostradamus of Elections" Allan Lichtman has shared who he believes will win the 2024 presidency ahead of tonight's debate.
Litchman accurately predicted Donald Trump's 2016 victory and multiple other president's wins.
"Kamala Harris will be the next president of the United States," Lichtman told .
"At least, that's my prediction for this race," he added.
The historian has become famous for his Keys to the White House method which uses 13-point true or false questions about the election race to form his near-perfect predictions.
“The keys absolutely will work. They are the constant northern star of political prediction,” Lichtman said.
Where the presidential debate is taking place
The presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will take place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
People are seen walking on the lawn of the National Constitution Center on September 10, 2024, the site of tonightâs presidential debate between Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala HarrisCredit: AP Trump has slammed ABC ahead of tonight's debate
Donald Trump has not minced his words when talking about ABC, the network that will host tonight's presidential debate.
The former president called ABC the "nastiest" network during a press conference on Friday.
"I'm going into very hostile territory shortly on a debate with ABC, George Slopodopoulos [sic], and that group," Trump told .
"And ABC, I think, is the worst of everybody. I think they're the worst, they're the nastiest. They're as bad as you can be.
"They're worse than NBC, which is saying a lot."
Meet the moderators
Tonight's presidential debate will be moderated by anchors Linsey Davis and David Muir.
Davis has been a long-time journalist for the network, she also co-hosts World News Tonight, Nightline, and 20/20.
Before reaching a national audience, Linsey was a correspondent for Indiana's WTHR and Michigan's WJRT.
She has covered major events in the past including the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival shooting, Michael Jackson's death, Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault trial, and Hurricane Katrina.
Meanwhile, Muir was able to land the first televised interview with the former president after he won the election.
Trump has been public about his feelings toward ABC, however, he has shown favor toward Muir.
Will you be watching the debate?
Will you be watching the debate?
Tight race
Polls in the battleground states show the race is on a knife edge.
An average of polls conducted in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Nevada, and Wisconsin show Kamala Harris is beating Donald Trump by only 0.2%.
Trump's main policy points
DONALD Trump closed the Republican National Convention on July 18, telling supporters he wanted to become president for "all Americans.
- Implementing tax cuts, including no tax on tips
- Protecting Social Security and Medicare - Trump said 'incomes will skyrocket and the middle class will prosper like never before'
- Protecting borders - He pledged to end the 'border nightmare.' That means two things on day one - 'Drill baby Drill,' as he said, and close the borders
- Finishing building the wall
- Keeping our 'sons and daughters safe'
- Replenishing the military and building a military 'dome' - Trump insisted he could stop wars with just a phone call and said no military would be able to penetrate the USA if he came into office
- Ending the war in Ukraine and imposing tariffs on Iran
- Vowing to "beat" China
- Working to decrease prices and ease inflation
- Bringing down the cost of energy
- Making cities 'safe, clean and beautiful' again
- Making it possible for Americans to buy gas-run cars by ending the electric vehicle mandate on the first day of his presidency
The debate comes as...
- poll puts Trump one point ahead of Harris.
- But battleground polling suggests Harris has a slender advantage
- Trump’s team says the former president will “be himself” during the debate, but reveals there will be “some surprises.”
- A campaign spokesperson said Trump will bash Harris over issues such as the US-Mexico border, illegal immigration, and the US withdrawal from Afghanistan - all policies taken by President Biden which Trump believes Harris "owns"
- Harris prepares for showdown by debating a Trump impersonator
- Former Biden adviser warns Harris needs 'quick one-liners' in debate
- reportedly admit the party is anxious ahead of the showdown
- 'Polling Nostradamus' Allan Lichtman predicts Harris will defeat Trump in November
Republican strategist weighs in
John Thomas, a Republican strategist, told The U.S. Sun that Trump wants to project power at tonight's debate - which is why he said he doesn't want Kamala Harris standing on a box behind her podium.
Trump stands at 6 feet 2 inches tall, while Harris is 5 feet 4 inches tall.
Tim Walz hosts watch party
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is hosting a virtual watch party to support his running mate Kamala Harris.
College students share debate expectations
NYU Students Share Their Expectations Ahead of Upcoming Presidential DebateRFK Jr shows support
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. showed his support for Donald Trump with a video on X ahead of tonight's debate.
"No matter what state you live in, you should be voting for Donald Trump," Kennedy said in the .
"That's the only way that we can get me and everything I stand for into Washington, D.C. and fulfill the mission of my campaign."
"Right now, freedom of speech is under withering an relentless attack in America and across the globe, but at least we still have enough of it here that you can watch this video.
"We can still run an opposition political campaign," he added.
Six new rules for the debate
The rules for tonight's debate include:
- Harris and Trump's microphones will be muted when they aren't speaking
- The pair isn't allowed to ask each other questions
- Neither Harris nor Trump will give an opening statement
- The candidates will have two minutes to answer questions
- They'll also have two minutes for rebuttals
- Both must stay standing behind their lecterns throughout the debate
Mics will be muted
Microphones will be muted when candidates aren't speaking to prevent unnecessary interruptions during tonight's debate.
This new rule has reportedly thrown Kamala Harris' team.
The Harris campaign had already agreed to the debate conditions that were previously negotiated for Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, but it seems they were hoping the rules on microphones would change.
"Kamala Harris had planned to object, fact-check and directly question Donald Trump while he was speaking during their debate," on Friday.
"But now, with rules just finalized to mute the candidates when their opponents speaks, campaign officials said Harris advisers are scrambling to rewrite their playbook."
No live audience
There won't be a live audience at tonight's debate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The candidates also aren't giving opening statements, according to .
How to watch
How to watch the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump?
KAMALA Harris and Donald Trump will have their first presidential debate on September 10. The U.S. Sun has everything you need to know:
The debate, which will last for 90 minutes, kicks off at 9pm ET and will air on ABC.
It will also be shown on ABC News' 24/7 streaming network, Hulu and Disney+.
The debate will be moderated by ABC stars Linsey Davis and David Muir.
Harris and Trump will not make opening statements.
The candidates will have two minutes to answer a question.
Then, there is a two-minute window for debate.
An additional minute can be used for clarification or a follow-up.
Trump prevailed in a virtual coin toss and chose to make the final closing statement.
Both closing statements will be two minutes long.
Harris and Trump's microphones will be muted when their rival is speaking.
Neither candidate will be able to ask their opponent questions.
Both candidates can have a pen and some paper at their podiums.
But, they are unable to take pre-written notes into the contest.
There will be two commercial breaks but Trump and Harris' campaign teams will not be able to give tips to their respective candidates.
Source:
Debate airs tonight
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will face off on the debate stage for the first time tonight.
The 90-minute event starts at 9 pm ET.