Harris and Trump sparred in the high-stakes showdown.
The first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump turned into a heated matchup that lasted more than 90 minutes.
The night started with a handshake initiated by Harris, but quickly escalated as the vice president bashed Trump over his policies and comments, contending that it was time to "offer is a new generation of leadership for our country."
Trump criticized Harris throughout the debate on topics such as Afghanistan and immigration issues, drawing comparisons between the vice president and President Joe Biden.
With Election Day just eight weeks away, the debate came at a critical point as polls show a neck-and-neck race between the candidates.
Harris and Trump met for their first presidential debate on Tuesday night. The consequential matchup was hosted by ABC News at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Read a transcript of what was said in the 90-minute debate here.
Harris has arrived at the National Constitution Center ahead of her face-off with former President Trump.
Harris' motorcade drove past a billboard on the highway that read "VOTE TRUMP," according to ABC News' Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, who is traveling with the vice president.
-ABC News' Fritz Farrow
Harris selected the right podium position on stage. The two candidates will remain standing for the 90-minute debate.
There will be no opening statements, though each candidate will get two minutes at the end to give their closing arguments to the American people. Trump will offer the last closing statement after winning the coin toss.
The candidates can't bring notes on stage. Candidates will only be given a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water. They cannot interact with their campaign staff during commercial breaks.
Their microphones will only be live when it is their turn to speak and muted otherwise. Harris and Trump will get two minutes to respond to questions by the moderators and two minutes for rebuttals. They cannot ask each other questions.
Here's the latest look at the debate stage, as Harris and Trump face off in less than an hour.
The candidates will be standing 6 feet apart. There will be no live audience.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a top Trump antagonist, tore into the former president as unable to resist personal attacks and "boring" on the trail.
"He doesn't know any other way. He's incapable of not doing that," Newsom said when asked if Trump would attack Harris' personality. "This is a guy who's just weakness masquerading as strength."
Newsom said he expects Harris to "rise above" the attacks but to also "counterpunch."
"She's new, she's the next generation. He's old, he's stale, he's derivative, he's, dare I say it, boring," Newsom added.
-ABC News' Tal Axelrod
