PHILADELPHIA — This debate began with a handshake, but it quickly escalated as Kamala Harris aimed to put Donald Trump on the defensive during their first direct encounter at the National Constitution Center on Tuesday.

Despite starting with a formal greeting, the atmosphere was charged with tension in what might be the most critical moment of the 2024 presidential race, predicted to be decided by a very narrow margin.

Both candidates are facing intense scrutiny as the campaign reaches its last eight weeks. However, the debate served as a significant opportunity for Harris, who has made substantial gains in the polls, closely trailing the Republican nominee after taking over the Democratic campaign from President Joe Biden.

In her closing remarks, the Vice President emphasized her forward-looking vision for America, suggesting Trump is stuck in the past. She stated, “The American people have so much more in common than what divides us.”

“We can chart a new course together,” she declared, appealing to the aspirations, dreams, and ambitions of the people.

However, many voters expressed uncertainty about where she stands on significant issues as she introduces herself to the American public.

Trump tackled this issue in his conclusion, portraying a starkly negative view of the U.S. which he claimed is “seriously declining” and is the subject of mockery internationally. He pressed Harris on the lack of action on the matters she wishes to address if elected.

“She talks about doing wonderful things. She has been in office for three and a half years,” Trump commented. “They’ve had three and a half years to fix the border. They’ve had three and a half years to create jobs. Why hasn’t she succeeded?”

Here are the main highlights from Tuesday’s debate.

A Handshake Leads to a Heated Exchange

What began with a handshake quickly devolved into a display of hostility as the debate progressed.

Harris, faced with a muted microphone during her speaking time, displayed her disapproval of Trump by shaking her head frequently and mouthing, “That’s not true.”

In response to Harris’s warning about a potential national abortion ban, Trump retorted, “What she says is a complete lie.”

The back-and-forth continued, with Trump referencing a July assassination attempt against him, claiming he “probably took a bullet in the head” due to the rhetoric against him. Meanwhile, Harris accused Trump of preferring to campaign on problems rather than solving them.

Harris remarked that military leaders view Trump as a disgrace.

“Excuse me, I’m speaking now, if you don’t mind,” Trump interrupted when Harris took a turn to speak off-mic. “Does that sound familiar?”

That statement echoed Harris’s previous remarks during her debate with then-Vice President Mike Pence four years ago.

Contrasting Views on Inflation and Immigration

Setting aside their personal clashes, Trump and Harris highlighted their differences on key national issues such as inflation, international relations, and the southern border crisis, with Trump arguing that rising costs have been disastrous for Americans, particularly the middle class.

One ongoing concern surrounding the Biden administration — and indirectly affecting the Harris campaign — is the public’s ongoing frustration with their financial situations.

When questioned about whether the nation is in a better position compared to four years ago, Harris leaned on her middle-class background while attacking her GOP opponent’s track record. Trump countered, joking that Harris seemed to be adopting some of his economic strategies, even playfully suggesting he almost bought her one of his famous red “Make America Great Again” hats.

Harris countered that Trump left the nation with the lowest employment rates since During the debate, Vice President Kamala Harris criticized Donald Trump’s economic strategies, arguing they could worsen inflation and potentially trigger a recession. “Donald Trump has no plan for you,” Harris declared, emphasizing that his focus is more on self-preservation than on the welfare of the public.

Trump refuted this by claiming, “They’re not going to have higher prices,” asserting that China would actually bear the cost of any tariffs he imposes.

He had committed to a minimum 10% tariff on imports, discussing in August a possible increase to 20%. Additionally, Trump suggested a staggering 60% tariff on China, which he identified as the US’s primary economic rival.

Harris pointed out that Trump’s tariffs are like a national sales tax affecting average Americans.

During the debate, Trump suggested that Harris should have canceled the existing tariffs if she disapproved of them, referring to the Biden administration’s decision to maintain Trump’s tariffs on China.

Harris takes a stand on abortion rights

The discussion heated up when the topic shifted to reproductive rights, a crucial issue for Democrats following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade.

Harris rebuked Trump for his unfounded claim that some states permit infanticide, labeling it “insulting to the women of America.”

While Trump distanced himself from the idea of a nationwide abortion ban, he boasted about his role in the overturning of Roe v. Wade, praising the conservative justices he appointed to the Supreme Court.

“I did a great service in doing it, it took courage to do it,” he asserted.

Harris courts former Trump aides

The Harris campaign’s approach to counter Trump’s recent criticisms involves highlighting support from Republicans who don’t regard her as a typical far-left Californian.

There exists a clear division between traditional GOP principles and the populist sentiments energized by Trump’s base. The vice president’s campaign has garnered backing from figures like former Vice President Dick Cheney, who has traditionally been unpopular among progressives.

Before the debate, Harris’s team showcased former Trump advisor Anthony Scaramucci and Olivia Troye, a past national security advisor under Mike Pence who left the Trump administration post-January 6, 2021.

Scaramucci, who had a notably brief tenure, told reporters that he believes Harris’ economic policies and national security stance would resonate with “normal Republicans” this election season.

“There’s nothing radical about it,” he claimed.

Troye expressed that while her conservative values remain intact, many Republican voters are feeling uneasy about Trump’s potential return to power. “I think I’m seeing a sea change,” she noted. “I’m hearing from Republicans nationwide. I’m traveling to swing states, talking directly to them, and they are saying, ‘I don’t identify with that.’”

Real-time fact-checking by moderators

In the first presidential debate between Trump and Biden last June, the lack of fact-checking by moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper came under fire.

However, this time around, ABC News moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis not only facilitated a smooth debate but also fact-checked Trump on the spot.

For instance, when Trump made an unverified claim about migrants in Springfield, Ohio, supposedly harming pets, Muir pointed out that his team had contacted the City Manager, who confirmed that there were no credible reports of such incidents.

Davis also corrected Trump regarding his assertion about newborns being killed after birth, stating, “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill the baby after it’s born.”

The moderators did not fact-check Harris, which led to accusations of favoritism from Trump and his supporters, who felt the debate was tilted against him.