Donald Trump and Kamala Harris debate

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris faced off in a high-stakes, prime-time debate that could significantly impact the outcome of an unprecedented race for the White House.

The 90-minute debate, hosted by ABC News, kicked off at 9 p.m. ET at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Right from the start, the debate was marked by a fast-paced, heated exchange, with both candidates delivering energized and at times combative remarks. Trump quickly strayed from the planned topics, repeating a debunked conspiracy theory about immigrants eating dogs.

In a dramatic post-debate moment, music superstar Taylor Swift endorsed Harris.

Their running mates—Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for Harris and Ohio Senator JD Vance for Trump—are scheduled to debate on October 1 in New York City, with CBS News hosting the event.

Current polling averages show the race is nearly tied at the national level, with key battleground state surveys placing Trump and Harris neck-and-neck, well within the margin of error.

During the debate, Harris called for a ceasefire in Gaza while emphasizing her support for Israel’s "right to defend itself." She advocated for a “two-state solution where we can rebuild Gaza, ensuring Palestinians have security, self-determination, and the dignity they rightfully deserve.”

Trump responded by accusing Harris of simultaneously hating both Israel and Arab populations. He went on to predict, “If she becomes president, I believe Israel will cease to exist within two years. I’ve been right about a lot of things, but I hope I’m wrong on this one.”

While Trump has often referred to himself as "the best friend Israel and the Jewish people ever had" on his Truth Social platform, he has also made antisemitic remarks targeting Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff—both Jewish Democrats.

Throughout the debate, Trump dominated the speaking time, clocking in at 28.6 minutes compared to Harris’ 22.8 minutes in the first half.