As soon as Taylor Swift announced her support to Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, netizens and fans started reacting with world's richest person Elon Musk mocking the pop star for her support to Harris.

Elon Musk tweeted out his reaction on his social media platform X and said, “Fine Taylor … you win…I will give you a child and guard your cats with my life.”

The post raged across the X platform with more than 77 million views and users stating “Sir you have reached unseen levels of divorce. No one has ever been more divorced than you in this moment,”

With 55 days left for the US Presidential election, a lot remains at stake as the battle is now tied up according to the political analysts and support base of varied individuals will bring some or the other thing on the table.

After pop star Taylor Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the upcoming US presidential election in November, former President Donald Trump has said that the singer will “pay the price” for supporting Harris.

In an interview, Trump dismissed Swift’s political stance and said he “was not” a fan of the pop star. Swift’s support post on Instagram emerged as the debate between Harris and Trump concluded on ABC News.

Trump in the interview said, “I was not a Taylor Swift fan. It was just a question of time. She couldn’t possibly endorse Biden. But she’s a very liberal person. She seems to always endorse a Democrat. And she’ll probably pay a price for it […] in the marketplace.”

With less than two months to the election, a support from one of the biggest US pop star might make a churning in the undecided voters group.

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris on the day of a ceremony marking the 23rd anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., September 11, 2024. (REUTERS)

Pop Star Taylor Swift has garnered over 9 million likes on her Instagram post in which she announced that she is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidential bid in November.

Some celebrities who liked Swift’s post include Jennifer Aniston, U.S. basketball star Caitlin Clark and Selena Gomez.

Taylor Swift, who has over 283 million followers on Instagram, announced the support to Harris just after the presidential debate between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Harris concluded.

In the post Swift wrote, “I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.”

The presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris garnered 57.5 million television viewers across seven networks.

The data by Nielsen showed that the Trump-Harris debate has topped the earlier presidential debate on CNN in June between Trump and President Joe Biden which received 51 million viewers.

Tuesday's debate between Republican candidate Trump and Democratic face Harris was the first time when both the leaders faced each other. And political pundits have said that the debate potentially ended in a tie.

According to Reuters, the record TV audience for a presidential debate occurred in 2016, when 84 million people tuned in to watch Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton debate Trump.

- Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s debate was closely watched globally.

- Tense exchanges on foreign policy occurred, with mentions of Putin.

- Russian reaction: Putin’s name used as an internal US battle tool; Kremlin displeased.

- Kyiv concerned about Trump’s stance on Ukraine; Harris reassured with strong support.

- Trump’s comments on the Taliban and the US withdrawal from Afghanistan led to internet memes.

- Harris represents uncertainty for Beijing; Trump’s unpredictability noted.

- Middle East reaction: Concerns over potential shifts in US policy on Israel and Palestine.

- Trump praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, causing varied responses in Hungary.

Investors scrambled to adjust their positions on Wednesday after a highly anticipated debate between Republican Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, with betting markets shifting in Harris' favor following the event. 

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns Truth Social, dropped by about 14%, while bitcoin and crypto stocks also took a hit. In contrast, solar stocks, viewed as benefiting from a Harris victory, surged, while healthcare stocks declined.

The heated debate on Tuesday saw Trump and Harris spar over issues such as the economy, immigration, and Trump’s legal challenges, as both aimed for a pivotal moment in the tightly contested race. (Reuters)

- Donald Trump and Kamala Harris’s campaigns are vying for an advantage after last night’s debate, which might be the only one before the election.
- Harris's team stated she is willing to debate Trump again, but Trump mentioned he would be "less inclined" to participate in another debate.
- The two candidates unexpectedly crossed paths at a 9/11 commemoration ceremony in New York City, where they briefly shook hands.
- Trump's surrogates are defending unproven claims that Haitian immigrants are eating pets in an Ohio town, with his running mate, JD Vance, insisting the story is true.
- A father from the Ohio town, whose son’s death in a car crash is being used by conservatives to argue against immigrants, has called for them to stop exploiting the tragedy for "political gain."
- Trump said pop superstar Taylor Swift will “pay the price” for endorsing Harris after the debate last night.

Following last night’s debate, NBC News questioned JD Vance, the Ohio senator campaigning alongside Donald Trump, about his repeated claims that Haitian immigrants were eating pets in an Ohio town, despite local officials denying the allegations.

Vance responded by saying he had received reports from his constituents supporting the story and expressed scepticism about the Springfield, Ohio, town manager’s denial of the claims.

Kamala Harris’s greatest advantage as she runs for President of the United States at this moment in history is that she is not a White man. More specifically, that she is neither Joe Biden nor Donald Trump, as she made clear at various points during the live presidential debate with the latter on September 10 — the first time the two were facing off.

Harris underlined this by striding over to her opponent’s side of the room, giving him a firm shake of the hand and introducing herself. Some opening jitters aside, Harris went into the debate sounding calm and in control, with a clarity of speech that would have soothed any Democratic fears going back to the disastrous June night when Trump, so to speak, wiped the floor with a clearly in-over-his-head Joe Biden.

Read the Express opinion here.

During a pivotal debate between United States Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump as part of the 2024 campaign on Wednesday, both candidates clashed over key issues such as the economy, immigration, and abortion.  

Donald Trump, in particular, made a series of inaccurate statements, including false claims about immigrants “eating pets,” his ties to Project 2025, and abortion, among other issues raised during their heated exchange in Philadelphia.

Here’s how the US media fact-checked the duo:

Kamala Harris: “As of today, there is not one member of the United States military who is on active duty in a combat zone, in any war zone around the world, for the first time this century.”

NYT fact-checks: “This needs context,” says the New York Times. Since the Hamas attacks on October 7, thousands of US troops have been drawn into hostilities in the Middle East. While not engaged in a full-scale war like in Iraq or Afghanistan, they are involved in various operations. 

Donald Trump: “Abortions are taking place in the ninth month of pregnancy..”

The Guardian fact-checks: Fewer than 1% of abortions are performed after 21 weeks of pregnancy. When they do occur, it’s typically due to medical emergencies or severe fetal anomalies. Additionally, Trump has suggested on several occasions that abortions happen after birth. However, infanticide, or killing a newborn, is illegal in all 50 states, according to The Guardian.

Read more to see how US media fact-checked the Trump-Harris debate.

Germany's foreign ministry mocked Trump's false assertion about immigrants eating pets in a post on X on Wednesday while pushing back against his criticism of German energy policy.

"Like it or not: Germany’s energy system is fully operational, with more than 50% renewables. And we are shutting down – not building – coal & nuclear plants. Coal will be off the grid by 2038 at the latest. PS: We also don’t eat cats and dogs," the post said. 

Trump amplified a false claim in Tuesday's debate with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris that numerous Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were stealing residents' pets or taking wildlife from parks for food, according to a Reuters report. 

He also criticized Harris' plan for promoting a diverse and sustainable mix of energy sources, saying Germany had tried and failed to give up fossil fuels.

The US remembered the lives taken and those reshaped by 9/11, marking an anniversary laced with presidential campaign politics as President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and Vice President Kamala Harris stood together Wednesday at ground zero, news agency AP reported.  

With less than two months until Election Day and just hours before Alabama starts mailing early ballots on Wednesday, according to an AP report, the debate provided a revealing glimpse into the tumultuous presidential race.

In their first and possibly only debate before the election, Kamala Harris made a vigorous case against Donald Trump, challenging him on abortion, immigration, Israel-Gaza and Russia-Ukraine wars, and American democracy, indicating their sharply contrasting visions for the country. 

US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump on Wednesday will observe the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the US with visits to each of the three sites-- World Trade Center in New York, Pentagon in Washington DC, and Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania-- where hijacked planes crashed in 2001 and killed nearly 3,000 people.

Trump and running mate Senator JD Vance arrived at the World Trade Center's twin towers around 8 am, reported news agency AP. 

US cryptocurrency stocks dropped in premarket trading on Wednesday as Democratic candidate Kamala Harris challenged her Republican rival Donald Trump in the debate.

Trump had been seen as a pro-bitcoin candidate, whose return could mark a win for the industry that has accused the current administration of regulatory overreach. Bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency, was down 1.6 per cent on Wednesday, while Ether fell 2 per cent, according to a Reuters report. 

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group dropped 17 per cent in premarket trading on Wednesday as Kamala Harris gained ground over Donald Trump in betting odds after a heated presidential debate.

Harris put Trump on the defensive with a stream of attacks on his fitness for office, his support of abortion restrictions, and his myriad legal woes, prompting a visibly angry Trump to deliver a series of falsehood-filled retorts, news agency Reuters reported. 

After the debate, pricing for a Trump victory fell by 6 cents to 47 cents on the online betting site PredictIt, while Harris’s odds rose to 57 cents from 53 cents. 

Harris also gained a boost from Taylor Swift's endorsement on Instagram.

(With Reuters inputs)

The Kremlin on Wednesday criticized the use of Vladimir Putin's name in the US presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, urging them to stop dragging him into their political fight.

President Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov was speaking a week after the Kremlin leader said in a teasing remark that he favoured Harris over Trump, which led the White House White House to say that Putin should stop commenting on the upcoming November election.

Peskov told reporters that the Kremlin had not directly followed Tuesday night's debate, but had tracked news reports of it, news agency Reuters reported. 

"Putin's name is used as one of the instruments in the domestic political struggle in the U.S. We really, really don't like it, and we hope that they will leave our president's name alone," Peskov said. 

(With Reuters inputs)

The Diplomatic Editor of the Indian Express writes about the five key takeaways from the Harris-Trump Presidential Debate.

1. The style and atmospherics: Smiling Harris, angry Trump

Harris was calm and assertive, bringing out her natural prosecutorial skills to charge at Trump’s past — his criminal convictions, the January 6 Capitol Hill attack under his watch, and the fact that world leaders laugh at him. Trump was provoked, and he was angry, almost yelling, trying to counter them.

2. The domestic economy and politics debate: ‘Marxist’; ‘tired old lies’

The economy, abortion, immigration, and health care were among the top issues that were discussed during the debate. Harris criticized Trump’s past actions and policies, while Trump dismissed her arguments as 'Marxist' and 'tired old lies.'

Read more to find out additional takeaways from the debate.

United States President Joe Biden, reacting to the high stakes presidential debate between former US president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris said that he was proud of the leader he has worked alongside for three-and-a-half years.

America got to see tonight the leader I’ve been proud to work alongside for three and a half years. Wasn’t even close. VP Harris proved she’s the best choice to lead our nation forward. We’re not going back.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 11, 2024

Here's what former US president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris said on abortion rights in the United States:

The two candidates engaged in a fractious debate about abortion - an issue where polls show Harris has the upper hand, news agency Reuters reported.

Trump defended the US Supreme Court's 2022 ruling that ended constitutional protection for abortion and sent the issue back to individual states, arguing, incorrectly, that it was an outcome desired by both Republicans and Democrats. Democrats have long supported a constitutional right to abortion.

“I did a great service in doing it. It took courage to do it,” Trump said.

Trump also contended that some states allow babies to be aborted after birth, a point corrected by ABC News moderator, Linsey Davis, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, Harris flashed outrage at Trump's assertion that abortion becoming a states-rights issue was a popular result, while referring to states that have passed restrictive bans.

“This is what people wanted?” Harris asked. “People being denied care in an emergency room because healthcare providers are being afraid of being hauled off to jail?" (Reuters)

Former US president Donald Trump entered the spin room after the debate, claiming he had a great debate and continued to slam Harris over her policies, ABC News reported.

He also said he was open to debating Harris again.

A spokesperson for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris' campaign said on Tuesday night that Harris and her Republican rival Donald Trump should do a second debate in October, news agency Reuters reported.

In a post over Instagram, Taylor Swift said she watched the debate, has done her research and made her choice on who to support in 2024 race.

"I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election," Swift wrote.

Former US President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris faced each other in their first presidential debate on Tuesday night.

The debate, hosted by ABC News and simulcast on NBC, started at 9 pm EST (6.30 am IST), and ran approximately 90 minutes, saw both candidates come down heavily on each other over economy, abortion rights, Israel-Gaza and Russia-Ukraine wars, immigration laws, besides others.

Vice President Kamala Harris drew a final contrast between her vision for the United States against that of former US President Donald Trump's administration.

"We're not going back," she said. "And I do believe that the American people know we all have so much more in common than what separates us, and we can chart a new way forward."

Former US president Donald Trump closed out the high stakes US presidential debate with his closing statement calling out Vice President Kamala Harris' record in the last three and a half years.

"She's going to do all these wonderful things. Why hasn't she done it? She's been there for three and a half years," he said.  "The worst president, the worst vice president in the history of our country," he said.

Spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris, Iam Sams, reacting to the high stakes presidential debate between Harris and former US president Trump, said: "VP Harris is in total command of the stage. She is presidential. She has Trump on the ropes, holding him accountable for his own actions -- notably how he got Roe v. Wade scrapped and the damage that's caused women across America. He hasn't been the same since that exchange."

VP Harris is in total command of the stage. She is presidential. She has Trump on the ropes, holding him accountable for his own actions -- notably how he got Roe v. Wade scrapped and the damage that's caused women across America. He hasn't been the same since that exchange.

— Ian Sams (@IanSams) September 11, 2024

Former US President Donald Trump said he "doesn't care" about Vice President Kamala Harris' racial identity, despite his previous repeated comments about her race, including that she "happened to turn black."

"I don't care what she is. I don't care," he said. "Whatever she wants to be is OK with me."

Claiming to offer something new, Vice President Kamala Harris, said, 'Clearly I am not Joe Biden, and I am certainly not Donald Trump,' she said.

'And what I do offer is a new generation of leadership for our country, one who believes in what is possible, one who brings a sense of optimism about what we can do instead of always disparaging the American people.'

After Vice President Kamala Harris blamed Trump for the way he negotiated a peace plan with the Taliban for the final withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, Trump defended his adminstration's negotiations, while slamming the Biden administration for their handling of the final days of the war, according to ABC News.

"We did have an agreement negotiated by Mike Pompeo, it was a very good agreement. The reason it was good, it was -- we were getting out. We would have been out faster than that, but we wouldn't have lost the soldiers, we wouldn't have left many Americans behind," he said. 

When asked if she felt she bore any responsibility in the way the withdrawal in Afghanistan played out, Vice President Kamala Harris defended the administration's decision to end America's longest war, ABC News reported.

She then turned to criticizing Trump for the way he negotiated a peace plan with the Taliban that included a date of May 1, 2021, for the final withdrawal of troops - which President Joe Biden then continued to carry out with a September deadline. (ABC News)

Former US President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are facing each other in their first presidential debate on Tuesday night.

Speaking on the Israel-Gaza war, Harris adopted President Joe Biden’s stance on the issue while balancing unwavering support for Israel’s security, and at the same time, condemning the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

“What we know is that this war must end,” she said. Harris also voiced support for a two-state solution in the crisis, while Trump, claiming that his rival hates Israel, asserted that he would not have let the conflict happen under his administration.

“I will get that settled and fast, and I'll get the war with Ukraine and Russia ended if I'm president-elect, I'll get it done before, even becoming president," Trump claimed, according to ABC News.

When asked if Ukraine should win in its war against Russia, Trump did not directly respond, however, he said that he wants the war to stop. 

"I think it's in the US's best interest to get this war finished," Trump answered.

As Republican candidate Donald Trump continued to attack President Joe Biden's administration and his term, Democrat candidate Kamala Harris reminded him that she is now his rival.

Upon being asked if he regretted his actions on January 6, 2021, United States Vice President Donald Trump contended that he ordered the crowd to leave "peacefully and patriotically," and defended the protesters, ABC News reported.

"This group of people treated so badly," he said.

When asked again if he regretted his actions, Trump answered, "I had nothing to do with that other than they asked me to make a speech. I showed up for a speech."

As Israel-Gaza war remains the most politically divisive issues for Democrats, Vice President Kamala Harris adopted President Joe Biden's stance on the issue while balancing unwavering support for Israel's security and at the same time, condemning the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, ABC News reported.

United States Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump took the stage on Tuesday night for their first and only scheduled presidential debate before the November 5 election, Reuters reported.

Here are some key quotes till now:

ECONOMY

"I believe in the ambition, the aspirations, the dreams of the American people, and that is why I imagine and have actually a plan to build what I call an opportunity economy," said Harris. 

“What we have done is clean up Donald Trump’s mess,” Harris said.

"Look, we've had a terrible economy, because inflation, which is really known as a country buster," said Trump.

TARIFFS

"They are not going to have higher prices," Trump said, defending his tariffs proposal.

COVID-19

"But what Donald Trump did, let's talk about this, with COVID, is he actually thanked President Xi for what he did during COVID," said Harris.

PROJECT 2025

"What you're going to hear tonight is a detailed and dangerous plan called Project 2025 that the former president intends on implementing if he were elected again," said Harris. (

Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump met on Tuesday for their first and perhaps only debate, which would impact the November 5 US presidential elections.

Heading into the debate, there was a question as to how Harris and Trump, who have never met, would greet each other, Reuters reported. Harris settled the issue, definitively. She walked over to Trump at his podium, extended her hand and introduced herself as “Kamala Harris.”

It was a disarming way for Harris to greet a man who has spent weeks insulting her race and gender. After that, the debate quickly settled into an expected groove. Harris swiftly painted herself as a forward-looking candidate. She predicted Trump at the debate would pull from the “same tired playbook.” “A bunch of lies, grievances and name calling,” Harris said. (Reuters) 

Former US President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, facing each other in their first presidential debate on Tuesday night, came down heavily on each other, where Harris criticized Trump for putting the nation into a state of “worst employment” since the Great Depression, during his term.

“Donald Trump left us the worst unemployment since the Great Depression,” Harris said, referring to his years as president from 2017-2021. “What we have done is clean up Donald Trump’s mess,” Harris said.

Republican Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris clashed over the economy in the opening moments of their first presidential debate - a key moment in the closely fought presidential elections, news agency Reuters reported.

Harris attacked Trump's intention to impose high tariffs on foreign goods - a proposal she has likened to a sales tax on the middle class - while touting her plan to offer tax benefits to families

"Donald Trump left us the worst unemployment since the Great Depression," Harris said, referring to his years as president from 2017-2021. "What we have done is clean up Donald Trump's mess."

Trump, in return, criticized Harris for the persistent inflation during the Biden administration's term, though he overstated the level of price increases. He also pivoted quickly to his top issue, immigration, claiming again without evidence that immigrants from "insane asylums" are crossing the US southern border with Mexico.

Inflation, he said, "has been a disaster for people, for the middle class, for every class. (Reuters)

Kamala Harris' motorcade has left for the debate venue at National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and the debate is being hosted by ABC News.

Harris has said that she is feeling "good" ahead of the debate. Harris also posted a picture of her mother on her X account and recalled the values and hardships she inculcated from her mother and family at large regarding living life in a modest way in a middle class.

Kamala Harris will be facing former President Donald Trump for the first time in a direct face-off.

Ahead of the most awaited US Presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump has said that one of the most difficult challenges in the debate is that Harris has shifted her position several times.

Trump, in a telephonic interview to NBC News, said “You don’t know what to expect. She’s changed all of her policies over the years.”

Trump further said that the shift in her stance on issues has made it easy for him to define her in the minds of voters as “Harris is no longer believable”.

The debate which is scheduled to happen on September 10 on ABC News will be the second presidential debate for Trump this year and the first ever for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

Read more about this report

Pro-palestinian protesters have gathered and blocked an intersection near the presidential debate site of former President Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in Philadelphia.

The demonstrators have blocked the intersection of 12th and Market streets in Philadelphia as they protest against the Israel-Palestine war.

The protesters had created a ruckus during the Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention in July and August as well.

A ceasefire deal, led by the US and a group of countries, between Israel and Hamas militants is yet to be finalised and the Israel offensive remains underway.

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives ahead of his debate with Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., September 10, 2024. (Reuters)

The presidential debate is going to happen in Philadelphia which comes under the Pennsylvania state and in the 2024 US elections, even Pennsylvania could be a game changer as it is a vast state with capability to swing the electorate.

The debate will be a stage for both the contenders, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris to woo the undetermined voters as these will be the deciding swing votes which will eventually lead to the victory or defeat of Republicans or Democrats.

According to Al Jazeera’s report, Pennsylvania has at least 8 percent of the registered voters who are unsure about the candidates and don’t know exactly whom to vote for in the upcoming November polls.

Many reports have suggested that voters say they know less about what Kamala Harris wants to do and hence Harris would address that section more comprehensively, while a section of voters say they know too much about Donald Trump and hence, Trump might offer something different.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has urged the Republican candidate Donald Trump to stick to policy discussions and run the race on significant issues and avoid rhetorics.

Johnson said that Trump should focus more on the aspect of Harris’ US Senate presence and the record of liberal positions. During her presidential bid, Harris has staked more moderate stances.

In an interview to CNN, Johnson said, “I talk with the president a lot,” referring to Trump, "and that has always been my advice: that we run this race on policy, not rhetoric; on policy, not personality.”

Lately, former President Trump has been attacking Harris in personal terms wherein he called her “nasty” and “dumb as a rock”. Trump has also questioned Harris’ racial identity.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives on Air Force Two at Atlantic Aviation Philadelphia, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, near Philadelphia International Airport, ahead of the presidential debate with Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump. (AP)

The Harris campaign has planned to fly drones over the Philadelphia Art Museum just one hour before the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is scheduled to begin.

Harris' campaign has also debuted advertisements which are focused upon Philadelphia which includes billboards. The billboards are referencing the city’s shift towards Wawa and other Philly slang.

In a press release, Harris campaign’s spokesperson Kevin Munoz said, “Tonight’s show will echo some of the popular messaging this campaign and grassroots supporters have latched onto since the start of Vice President Harris’ candidacy, and build on our Philly-themed advertising and new ad launched earlier this morning trolling Donald Trump’s weird obsession over his small crowd sizes.”

The debate which is scheduled to begin at 9pm on ABC News is bound to happen in Philadelphia at the National Convention Centre.

The Harris campaign has announced a full list of the campaign surrogates who will be cheering for the Vice President Kamala Harris from the spin room tonight.

The details of the group which will support Harris from spin room is as follows:  Senators Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Laphonza Butler of California and Chris Murphy of Connecticut; and Representatives Jason Crow of Colorado, Veronica Escobar of Texas, and Robert Garcia and Ted Lieu of California.

According to an emailed statement by Harris campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt, “Many of these surrogates are also uniquely qualified to speak to why Donald Trump is unfit to lead, from his attacks on reproductive freedom to his comments disparaging fallen and injured service members and his threats to our national security.”

(with inputs from NBC News)

President Joe Biden has reacted to the upcoming presidential debate between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Biden has said that he spoke to Harris ahead of the debate scheduled for September 10 and claimed that she seemed “cool, calm and collected”.

According to NBC News, Biden said, “She seems calm, cool and collected. I think she’s going to do great.” Though Biden refrained from detailing in public the piece of advice he gave to Democratic candidate.

President Biden also held a debate with Trump in June but faced a lot of criticism within his own party over his performance and later he exited the presidential race, making way for the Vice President Harris.

The most awaited debate of the year between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is going to happen in Philadelphia at the National Convention Centre and it will be hosted by ABC News. 

The presidential debate is scheduled to begin at 9pm ET and will last for approximately 90 minutes.

The rules for the debates have been finalized and it is being speculated that though it is the first time both the Republican and Democratic candidates will be taking on each other, it could possibly be the last debate before the final showdown in November.

Trump and Harris will be up against each other in a tightly fought contest and the election could swing either way through the debate.

Kamala Harris will be joined by her husband, Doug Emhoff, sister Maya Harris and her husband, Tony West, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia tonight, NBC News reported.

Two former Trump White House officials will support Kamala Harris’s campaign as surrogates for Tuesday’s presidential debate. Anthony Scaramucci, who previously served as White House communications director under Donald Trump, and Olivia Troye, a former homeland security adviser to Mike Pence, will both advocate against Trump and in favour of Harris ahead of the debate, according to the campaign.

The debate guidelines between the Trump and Harris campaigns were the subject of contention. The Harris campaign had advocated for live or “hot” microphones to facilitate more dynamic exchanges between the candidates. Conversely, Trump’s campaign preferred that the microphones be muted, as was done during the first debate with Joe Biden.

ABC News has confirmed that microphones for both candidates will indeed be muted while the opponent is speaking. The agreed-upon rules for the debate are as follows:

- No opening statements will be allowed; closing statements are limited to two minutes per candidate.
- Candidates will remain behind podiums throughout the debate.
- Props and prewritten notes are prohibited on stage.
- Topics and questions will not be disclosed beforehand.
- Candidates cannot ask each other questions.
- Each candidate will have two minutes to answer questions, with an additional two minutes for rebuttals and one minute for follow-ups, clarifications, or responses.

Following a virtual coin toss, Trump chose to deliver the second closing remarks, while Harris selected the right podium position on the screen, positioning Trump on the left.

Tim Walz, running mate to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, announced on X that he will join a virtual debate watch party tonight from 8:30 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET. His press team confirmed that Walz will attend a physical watch party in Phoenix, which will be livestreamed for the virtual event.

Speaking at a Las Vegas fundraiser, Walz praised Harris as “the most qualified person” for president, while criticising Donald Trump as merely a “showman.” He noted, “Tonight, we’ll have the chance to see her qualifications on display. Meanwhile, Trump, who is participating in his seventh general election debate, is predictable. We know exactly what to expect from him.”

Former President Donald Trump will be joined by family members and key campaign advisers at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday, according to a source cited by CNN. Eric Trump, his wife Lara Trump, and several top advisers, including co-campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, will accompany him at the venue. Senior advisers Corey Lewandowski, Jason Miller, Steven Cheung, and Taylor Budowich are also expected to be present, preparing Trump ahead of his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Dan Scavino, Trump’s social media director, is also set to post live updates from the event on Trump's X account, CNN reported.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released a new video on X on Tuesday, encouraging his supporters to cast their votes for Donald Trump instead of him. This follows a decision by the Michigan Supreme Court a day earlier to keep Kennedy's name on the state's ballot, despite his withdrawal from the race weeks ago.

"No matter which state you're in, vote for Donald Trump," Kennedy urged in the video. "It's the only way to bring my vision and what I stand for to Washington, D.C., and complete the mission that inspired my campaign."