Trump v Harris debate live: Trump lies called out by moderator; Harris forces handshake
In the spin room, Trump expressed his opinion about the moderators, calling them a 'disgrace.'
As the debate wraps up, it's time for those in the candidates' spin rooms to step forward and defend their positions.
Vivek Ramaswamy, aligned with Donald Trump, expressed to reporters that "the moderators spoiled this debate."
The businessman, who competed against Mr. Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, claims that the moderators failed to address "biased fact-checking" or hold Kamala Harris accountable.
"This is absolutely shameful, and I truly believe we've never seen anything like this before," he expresses.
When our US correspondent James Matthews inquired why Mr. Trump left some questions unanswered, he responded, "He addressed his own points, and I believe he did an excellent job of doing so."
Revisit the moment: Harris initiates the handshake right at the start.
The candidates hadn't encountered each other prior to tonight's debate, and Donald Trump appeared uninterested in making introductions as he went directly to his podium.
Kamala Harris chose to approach and greet with a handshake...
Analysis: The Trump team will view this as an evening filled with lost chances.
I believe Team Trump will reflect on this debate and see it as a collection of chances that were not taken.
The previous president was unable to hold Harris accountable for her inconsistent positions on topics such as fracking, healthcare, and immigration.
She has acknowledged that her views on some policy issues have evolved over time, but Trump didn’t challenge her on this.
He appeared to have difficulty shifting his attention from Biden to the woman who is genuinely his rival at this time.
In his final remarks, Trump criticized Harris, and the two exited the stage without shaking hands.
Now it’s Donald Trump’s opportunity to give his final remarks.
He has as much as two minutes at his disposal, and he starts off by launching an attack on his rival.
"She began by mentioning her plans to accomplish various things and do great stuff—so why hasn't she actually followed through?" he remarks.
He targets her position on fracking and then reiterates his question: why hasn’t Kamala Harris addressed problems like these?
“We're the subject of ridicule globally,” he states, asserting that he has "reconstructed our armed forces" while alleging that "she gave a significant portion to the Taliban."
He uses the full two minutes to criticize his rival.
Mr. Trump wraps up his address by arguing that Joe Biden is "the most ineffective president" and labeling Ms. Harris as "the least competent vice president in our nation's history."
With that, he concludes his speech, and the two exit the stage without exchanging any words or shaking hands.
Harris promises to represent every American as she concludes her remarks.
We've just come back from a quick commercial break, and now we're ready for our final remarks.
As a quick reminder, each candidate will have two minutes to share their closing statements.
Starting off with Kamala Harris...
She starts by stating that viewers will have encountered two distinct perspectives for the future of the United States.
She explains that one is oriented towards the future while the other looks back at the past.
"However, she emphasizes, we're moving forward and not looking back."
She expresses that she has a vision that resonates with the hopes and ambitions of the American populace, and she aims to establish an "economy of opportunity."
She also mentions several initiatives, such as funding for small enterprises, assistance for new parents, and "ensuring America's position globally."
She promises to be a president who will "defend basic freedoms," emphasizing that this includes a woman's right to make choices about her own body.
Looking back on her experience as a prosecutor, she mentions that she’s always represented just one group – the public.
She mentions that she never inquired about whether the victims or witnesses were Republicans or Democrats; her only concern was to ask if they were alright.
"That's the type of leader we require at this moment," she adds.
"I aim to be a leader for every American and concentrate on how we can work together in the next decade and two to restore our nation by making investments in you starting today," she wraps up.
The ideas Harris aims to convey are present in the recurring lines.
Harris has begun many of her responses by saying, "Let's take a moment to explore our journey to this point."
It's one of the phrases she's practiced for the evening, along with "move forward" and "leader for every citizen."
The ideas she wants to convey.
Analysis: Some were taken aback when Harris revealed that she owns a gun.
Some attendees at the watch party in San Francisco were taken aback when Kamala Harris mentioned that she owns a gun.
She has mentioned this previously, stating that she owns a handgun for her own protection.
Harris is advocating for a prohibition on assault rifles, which are military-style firearms frequently involved in mass shooting incidents across the United States.
Candidates questioned about climate change as Trump criticizes Harris over electric vehicle tariffs from China.
Climate change is the next topic of discussion, and both candidates have been questioned about their plans to address it.
Kamala Harris is the first to speak.
She points out that Donald Trump has referred to climate change as "a scam" in the past.
She then reflects on her own achievements regarding green investments during Joe Biden's time in office.
"I'm proud to say that during my time as vice president over the past four years, we've put $1 trillion into building a clean energy economy, all while also ramping up our domestic gas production to record highs," she stated.
Ms. Harris mentioned that she is promoting the expansion of the electric vehicle industry in the United States.
Donald Trump appears to be frustrated by this situation, stating, "Large car manufacturing facilities are being established in Mexico, often with ownership from China."
He specifically avoids answering the original question about how he plans to tackle climate change as president. Instead, he continues his focus on criticizing China.
"What they've handed over to China is staggering."
For some background, our economics and data editor, Ed Conway, will explain why we're discussing vehicles, China, and electric energy. He'll also outline the measures implemented by Joe Biden's administration in this article.
"Skilled": Trump's team announces success in the debate before it's concluded.
The Trump campaign has issued a statement announcing their success in the debate...
President Trump gave an impressive performance during the debate tonight, effectively highlighting Kamala Harris's poor record that has negatively impacted Americans over the past four years.
We witnessed President Trump present his ambitious plan for America, detailing how he intends to enhance the achievements of his first term. He aims to boost the economy, strengthen border security, and tackle crime that threatens communities nationwide.
In contrast, Kamala's view of America highlights the troubling aspects of Joe Biden's heavy-handed government policies that she plans to uphold. She embodies the challenges of soaring inflation, a weak border that permits criminals and terrorists to enter freely, and a lenient approach to crime.
"The decision is unmistakable—President Trump emerged as the obvious victor tonight, and he is poised to bring success to America when he makes his way back to the White House."
