WASHINGTON — The Sept. 10 ABC News Presidential Debate brought former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris face to face for the very first time.

What You Need To Know

  • The two hopefuls for the White House, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, faced off for the first time

  • The candidates went after each other on the economy, immigration, abortion and foreign policy

  • Trump repeated the false claim that he won the 2020 election

  • Though Trump declared victory at the end of the night, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, said it’s clear Harris won the debate

The candidates went after each other on the economy, immigration, abortion and foreign policy.

“She just started by saying she’s going to do this, she’s going to do that, she’s going to do all these wonderful things,” Trump said. “Why hasn’t she done it?”

Trump repeated the false claim that he won the 2020 election.

“Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people, so let’s be clear about that, and clearly, he is having a very difficult time processing that,” Harris said.

Though Trump declared victory at the end of the night, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, said it’s clear Harris won the debate.

“I thought Vice President Harris did an amazing job,” McGarvey said. “She was confident. She was poised. She spoke to our hopes, to our dreams, to the plans for the future, the things we want to do for America. I thought Donald Trump looked old and confused and cranky and angry.”

During the debate, Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington, said in a social media post, “It’s obvious that ABC set up this debate to be a 3-on-1, but President Trump is still coming out on top. The American people aren’t fooled by these tactics or Kamala Harris’s socialist policies.”

Republican Party of Kentucky spokesperson Andy Westberry said in a statement Wednesday, "Last night, Americans heard former President Trump outline his plan to secure the southern border, cut taxes, support small businesses, reduce inflation, and strengthen national security. Vice President Kamala Harris, on the other hand, attempted to dodge her far-left record by parroting catchy talking points and hollow campaign slogans.”

“(Trump) had no plans for the future whatsoever, even when asked on them,” McGarvey said. “It was a very, very clear contrast between two people, and I think the choice is obvious in November.”

It’s not clear yet if the candidates will meet again on the debate stage as some states prepare for early voting to begin this month.

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