Donald Trump turned in a less than stellar performance in what he said was a three-on-one presidential debate against Kamala Harris on a night that could prove pivotal as both candidates battle for a breakthrough in an agonisingly close election.
In a performance that earned her the endorsement of pop superstar Taylor Swift, the Vice President succeeded in outmanoeuvering and outgunning her Republican opponent on hot-button issues from abortion to democracy and accused him of being a friend to dictators.
Trump, who many thought would have the upper hand ahead of last nights debate, repeatedly bit on Harris attempts to goad him into a war of words and spent much of his allotted speaking time defending himself instead of pressing Harris on her weaknesses.
The flustered 78-year-old frequently raised his voice as he hit back at the vice president on immigration and the economy, branding her a Marxist and claiming she was responsible for dog-and-cat-eating migrants flooding the country.
He also blamed the Democratic party for the assassination attempt he survived just months ago.
The former president was somewhat hamstrung by the ABC News moderators who ruthlessly fact checked almost every single one of his statements while Harris was allowed to speak at will - an unfair advantage that Trump later complained about on social media.
But as proceedings concluded it was clear that Trump - who headed straight for the press room - was unhappy with his performance, while Kamala was snapped flashing smiles and celebrating at watch parties.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris
Trump, who many thought would have the upper hand ahead of last nights debate, repeatedly bit on Harris attempts to goad him into a war of words
In a performance that earned her the endorsement of pop superstar Taylor Swift, the Democratic candidate succeeded in outmanoeuvering and outgunning her Republican opponent
The flustered 78-year-old frequently raised his voice as he hit back at the vice president on immigration and the economy, branding her a Marxist, blaming her for what he said were the failings of President Joe Bidens administration
Debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC News
Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the spin room after debating Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris
Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris visits a watch party after participating in a presidential debate with Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump
With less than two months until the election, Harris, 59, was under pressure to deliver in front of an audience expected to run into the tens of millions after her sudden replacement as the Democratic candidate in place of Biden.
She started on the front foot by surprising Trump by approaching him to shake his hand before they took to their lecterns.
Then the niceties ended.
Trump, who only a few weeks ago had believed himself to be cruising to victory, reacted to pressure from Harris by resorting to the kinds of finger-jabbing insults and meandering invective that he uses at his rallies.
Harris responded by looking on in amusement and occasionally exclaiming cmon, before declaring that she represents a fresh start after the mess of the Trump presidency - and saying: Were not going back.
The former president at one point talked at length about Haitian migrants of eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, an unsubstantiated claim that first appeared on social media and has since been debunked.
In Springfield, theyre eating the dogs. The people that came in, theyre eating the cats, the former president said. Theyre eating the pets of the people that live there.
Harris could be heard muttering What? This is unbelievable before openly laughing at Trumps statement.
ABC News debate moderator David Muir then stepped in and told Trump: There have been no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals.
One of the most intense exchanges between the two candidates was on abortion.
Trump insisted that while having pushed for the end of the federal right to abortion, he wanted individual states to make their own policy.
Harris said he was telling a bunch of lies and called his policies insulting to the women of America.
Within minutes, Trump hammered at the Democrats weak spot on immigration by falsely claiming that she and Biden had allowed millions of people pouring into our country from prisons and jails, from mental institutions and insane asylums.
Harris pointed out that Trump is a convicted felon, called him extreme and said it is a tragedy that throughout his career he had used race to divide the American people.
Trump, who only a few weeks ago had believed himself to be cruising to victory, reacted to pressure from Harris by resorting to the kinds of finger-jabbing insults and meandering invective that he uses at his rallies
Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, debates Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. president Donald Trump
Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the spin room after debating Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and US Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff attend a watch party
Prior to the debate, Trump had long seemed invulnerable.
He has been convicted of falsifying business records to cover up an affair with an adult film star, found liable for sexual abuse, and faces trial on charges of trying to overturn the 2020 election - and still is polling neck-and-neck with Harris.
The Democratic candidate noted Trump has been prosecuted for national security crimes, economic crimes, election interference, has been found liable for sexual assault and his next big court appearance is in November at his own criminal sentencing - with the Republican dismissing the trials as a witch hunt.
But Harris clearly needled him on one of his favourite, if less serious topics: the size of his trademark rallies.
Im going to invite you to attend one of Donald Trumps rallies because its a really interesting thing to watch, Harris told the debate audience, speaking directly to camera.
What you will also notice is that people start leaving his rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom. And I will tell you the one thing you will not hear him talk about is you.
Trump was furious in his response.
First let me respond as to the rallies. She said people start leaving. People dont go to her rallies. And the people that do go shes busing them in and paying them, he said, sounding angry. We have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies.
The rivals also clashed on foreign policy, with Harris telling Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin would eat you for lunch when it came to the war in Ukraine and that foreign dictators were laughing at him.
Trump shot back by accusing Harris of being weak on the war in Gaza, saying she hated Israel and that Israel would be gone within two weeks if she was president.
Another jarring moment came when Trump doubled down on his unprecedented refusal to accept losing to Biden in the 2020 election, before trying to overturn the result.
Harris responded by mocking his catchphrase as a reality TV star.
Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people. So lets be clear about that. And clearly he is having a very difficult time processing that, she said.
And Im going to tell you that I have traveled the world as vice president of the United States. And world leaders are laughing at Donald Trump.
After the proceedings were concluded, it was clear that Trump - who headed straight for the press room - was unhappy with his performance
Vice President Kamala Harris stops by the Harris-Walz campaigns Presidential Debate Watch Party after a strong showing in a debate against Trump
Pop superstar Taylor Swift on September 10, 2024 endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in the US presidential contest against Donald Trump, saying she was a warrior.
Singer Taylor Swift endorses Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris
Taylor Swift broke her silence on US politics minutes after the debate, backing Harris as president and praising her as a steady-handed, gifted leader.
Her message on Instagram - which received 3.6 million likes in the space of an hour - was signed off childless cat lady in a jibe at an insult that Trumps running mate J.D. Vance directed at Democrat-supporting women.
The last presidential debate in June had resulted in a crushing victory for Trump, after Biden delivered a catastrophic performance that ended up dooming his reelection campaign.
Biden said the Harris-Trump debate wasnt even close, in a post on X.
Former President Obamas top speechwriter David Litt told DailyMail.com that Democrats are cheering tonight.
Democrats like me were distraught after Trump beat Biden in the first debate. Tonight, were celebrating.
Vice President Harris was poised, calm, and laid out a clear policy vision that resonated with undecided voters. Trump had one job - to tie Harris to Bidens unpopular policies - and he apparently forgot the assignment.
He commented on how Trump continue to take the bait over and over which resulted in rambling, whining answers that made him look confused and completely unfit to lead.
If Donald Trump were a democrat and not a leader of a personality cult, his party would be talking about replacing him as its nominee after his disastrous performance in this debate.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Bronitsky, former chief speechwriter for Trumps Attorney General Bill Barr and co-founder and CEO of ATHOS, said Harris did better than expected.
Both candidates showed up for the job, he told DailyMail.com.
Trump was disciplined, sticking to the issues. After a rocky start, Harris dispelled the notion that shes entirely incapable of delivering a coherent, extended argument without a teleprompter.
Bronitsky called it surprising that Harris was the candidate interrupting and launching petty jabs.
She hurled ad hominem attacks by proxy, like her mysterious, unnamed military leaders calling Trump a disgrace, he went on.
But he said Trump had more standout moments with his cracker-barrel wit and prevailed over the VP.
He was on point, passionate, and genuinely ticked off about the countrys decline over the past four years. His frustration is certainly shared by countless fellow citizens.