Former president Donald Trump announced that he would reject Vice President Kamala Harris’ request for a second presidential debate in a Truth Social post on Thursday afternoon.

Trump, who met with Harris on the debate stage for the first time in Philadelphia earlier in the week, wrote that “Polls clearly show that I won the Debate against Comrade Kamala Harris,” and that the Democratic presidential nominee should “focus on what she should have done during the last four year period,”  as he confirmed he would not debate again during the 2024 election cycle.

Trump, who told journalists in the spin room immediately after the debate that he “wouldn’t mind” doing another debate, used various media appearances throughout the coming days to distance himself from a rematch. The former president originally called for three debates with Harris ahead of their meeting on Tuesday, though no other meetings of the two candidates materialized due to disputes over rules.

Since the debate on Tuesday, multiple scientifically conducted polls have indicated Harris won the debate by a large margin, though Trump continues to maintain he won the contest, citing Harris’ enthusiasm for a rematch as evidence.

Later Thursday, Harris responded to Trump’s post by calling again for another debate during a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“I believe we owe it to the voters to have another debate because this election and what is at stake could not be more important,” Harris said.

– Bryan Hecht

About a half hour after the conclusion of the debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the former President appeared in the spin room at the Pennsylvania Convention Center where surrogates for him and Harris’ campaign were already making their case to the media.

The unprecedented move saw a fever of activity in the room as Trump directly addressed the media on his debate performance, and responded to the Harris campaign’s calls for a second debate.

“Under the bright lights, the American people got to see the choice they will face this fall at the ballot box: between moving forward with Kamala Harris, or going backwards with Trump,” Harris campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said in a statement directly after the debate.”Vice President Harris is ready for a second debate. Is Donald Trump?” Dillion said.

The former president, who had previously called for three debates against Harris, did not indicate a desire for a re-match as he talked to spin room journalists.

“They want a second debate because they lost,” Trump said.

The following morning on the show “Fox and Friends,” Trump did not change his position saying, “When you win the debate, I don’t know that I want to do another debate.”

– Bryan Hecht

Harris said that the debate displayed two different visions for the country. She referenced her slogan “we’re not going back.”

“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, and a vision of that includes having a plan, understanding the aspirations, the dreams, the hopes, the ambition of the American people,” Harris said.

Trump took aim at Harris’ closing statement asking why she didn’t do what she is promising now.

“We’re laughed at all over the world. They don’t understand what happened to us as a nation. We’re not a leader, we don’t have any idea what’s going on,” Trump said.

When moderators posed Trump on his comments about Harris’ race during the National Association of Black Journalists conference during the summer, he said he “couldn’t care less” about her race.

“It’s a tragedy that we have someone who wants to be president who has consistently over the course of his career, attempted to use race as a divide the American people,” Harris said in response.

Trump and Harris interrupted the moderators several times to respond to one another.

Trump said he was being sarcastic when he said recently that he lost the 2020 election.

“I said that?” Trump said when asked about his comment from an interview with Lex Friedman that he had lost the election “by a whisker.”

Trump spent years denying that he lost the election, despite no evidence that election fraud took place.

“That was said sarcastically,” he said. “I don’t acknowledge that at all.”

Harris reiterated support for a two-state solution and a ceasefire deal, saying that she believes “Israel has a right to defend itself,” but “how it does so matters.” Falling short of any condemnation against Israel, Harris emphasized that the war must end and a solution where equal security is guaranteed for Israel as well as Palestine.

As the question turned to Trump he said that the conflict would “never have started” had he been President before pivoting to talk about the Russia-Ukraine War and saying that Putin would never have invaded Ukraine with Trump in the White House. Trump vowed to end that conflict as well as settle conflicts across the Middle East, without giving specifics. He also said that Harris “hates Israel,” and “the Arab population” in Gaza.

“If she’s president, I believe that Israel will not exist within two years from now,” Trump said. “I’ve been pretty good at predictions, and I hope I’m wrong about that one,” he continued.

Harris rebutted these statements saying that Trump allowed Putin to do whatever to Ukraine and that he desires to be a dictator like Putin himself.

“Donald Trump is weak on national security and foreign policy,” Harris said.

– Bryan Hecht

Ahead of the debate, both Trump and Harris campaigns pushed back against muted mics.

But the mics didn’t stop the candidates from talking over each other multiple times.

Moderator David Muir fact-checked Trump live after the former president reiterated claims previously made by his campaign that Haitian immigrants were abducting and eating dogs in Springfield, Ohio.

The claims were debunked in a statement from the Springfield Police Division on Tuesday which said that “there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.”

Moderator David Muir stepped in to re-clarify that point during the debate saying ABC reached out the city manager to confirm those reports.

“It’s really interesting to watch,” she said. 

Trump will not put people first, she said. 

“One thing you will not hear him talk about is you,” Harris said. “You will not hear him talk about your needs, your dreams and your desires. And I’ll tell you I believe you deserve a president who actually puts you first.”

– Hannah Nguyen

Harris said that Trump “would rather run on a problem than fix a problem,” as she criticized his vetoing of a bill that would have increased staffing at the border.

“I know there are so many families watching tonight who have been personally affected by the surge of fentanyl in our country. That bill would have put more resources to allow us to prosecute transnational criminal organizations,” Harris said, hoping to undercut Trump’s continued mentions of immigration and the border throughout the debate.

– Bryan Hecht

After being asked to clarify his record on abortion by Linsey Davis, Trump emphasized that he believed Democrats were “radical,” on the issue, citing Harris’ running mate Tim Walz and saying that he had said abortions after nine months were okay and that a child may be executed after birth.

Trump re-stated his belief in exceptions for rape, incest, and preservation of the life of mothers but that The Supreme Court “had great courage,” in overturning Roe v. Wade.

Before Harris’ response, Davis fact-checked Trump on his claims stating that there is no state where execution after birth is allowed.

– Bryan Hecht

Trump continued to separate himself from Project 2025. The project was created by dozens of his former administration officials.

“I haven’t read it. I don’t want to read it, purposefully,” he said. “I’m not going to read it.”

Harris spoke about growing up middle-class and being “the only person on the stage who has a plan that is about lifting up the middle class and working people of America.”

She pledged to give a $50,000 tax deduction for small businesses.

Meanwhile, she said, Trump has plans to “provide a tax cut for billionaires and big corporations, which will result in $5 trillion to America’s deficit.”

Trump denied her claims about his policies that she said would cost Americans, saying he would focus on tariffs.

He shifted to discuss immigration, saying people were “pouring into the country.”

Dave Owsik is a member of the Chester Country Pro-Life Coalition, a group that usually protests outside Planned Parenthood centers, but traveled to Center City to demonstrate outside the presidential debate.

“[Kamala Harris] is all about trying to promote abortion,” Owsik said. He added that Harris has made abortion this election’s number one issue by having nothing else to run on.

The Coalition brought large blown up photographs showing pictures of bloody aborted fetuses and contrasting them with ultrasound imagry with them to the mall.

“[The pictures are] to show people that the fetus is an alive person, separate from the mother,” Owsik said.

Owsik said that he believes Trump is mostly a pro-life candidate which makes him preferable to Harris.

–Bryan Hecht

Marshall James Cavanaugh is a poet who gathered along with other artists under the banner “Poets For Peace” in Independence Mall on Tuesday night ahead of the presidential debate.

Cavanaugh and others sat at their typewriters, illuminated by the glow of desk lamps in the park writing crowd sourced poetry inspired by members of the large crowd that gathered on the mall by nightfall.

Cavanaugh said he believes poetry is good at helping people “find common ground,” in a time when there is “lots of division in the air” surrounding politics.

“[By writing poetry] we get to see how everyone has a similar excitement about life,” Cavanaugh said. “They [all want freedom, they want love, they want to express themselves, [and] they want free speech.”

–Bryan Hecht

Pa. Rep. Madeleine Dean spoke to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about his late father, who died on her ninth birthday.

“When I woke up the next morning as a kid and I learned that Robert F. Kennedy had died, it was a very sad time for our family,” Dean said. “I had the chance to tell him about that and tell him how much I admired his father.”

While the Montgomery County congresswoman said she “admires [RFK Jr.’s] notion of what we can do to lift children,” particularly those with chronic illnesses or facing poverty or hunger, “his support for Mr. Trump makes no sense.”

RFK Jr. suspended his presidential bid in August and endorsed Trump.

“The good news is there will not be a second Trump administration,” Dean said in response to whether she would work with the Trump administration if RFK Jr. played a role in it.

“I don’t think Mr. Kennedy’s support [for Trump] is going to make a difference at all,” she added

– Hannah Nguyen

Several Pro-Palestinian protesters and allies gathered outside city hall at around 6:30 p.m. and begin chants. By 7 p.m. the group began marching down Market Street away from city hall as the crowd multiplied to more than 500 marchers.

Protesters were escorted by about two dozen police officers on bikes, who formed a traffic barricade in front of the marchers.

Amongst the vast crowd of protesters, Dounya, who lives in Philadelphia, shared insight of why they went out to protest on Debate night.

“I think it’s absolutely unbelievable that there’s this much coverage for two clowns debating one another,” Dounya said. “Both of them who believe in murdering Palestinians.”

Dounya continined saying that both candidates have “Imperialist interests” and have no regard for what a majority of the country wants.

When it comes to being local, Dounya is upset about the debate being held in their city, saying they could have had it anywhere else.

“I couldn’t go to work today, I have clients that I need to attend to, I couldn’t go to work today because of this stupid clown debate that they’re holding.” Dounya said. “As a Philadelphia resident, I think it’s a waste of money.”

– Bryan Hecht, Sam Shipman

Bob Kunst sat on a lawn chair next to the Liberty Bell in between two large signs that read “Trump vs Tramp” and “Kamala Loves Hamas.”

Kunst, who wore a shirt and hat with the flag of Israel while holding a stack of Trump stickers, took a two-day drive from Miami Beach to Philadelphia to “create havoc,” on Independence Mall. 

While the 82-year-old said he supports Trump, he is a registered Democrat and previously supported Hillary Clinton in her race against the former president in 2016. Now, he is “through with the party,” he said.

Kunst is a Jewish rights activist and the president of Shalom International, a Miami-based organization known for anti-Nazi demonstrations with a mission to “Defend Jerusalem,” according to the Sun Sentinel.

Kunst said he has long opposed fascism in his work for the organization, but he believes it’s become present in the Democratic Party.

“[The Democratic party has] done everything possible to stop Trump from even being a candidate and then you call it democracy?” Kunst said. “No, it’s called fascism.”

He believes that Harris cannot be trusted in office because he said her policies are inconsistent, citing her reversal of her position on a 2019 pledge to support a ban on fracking as evidence.

Though he does support Trump, who is the Republican candidate, Kunst said that adherence to party allegiances has caused people to lose sight of issues.

Some people believe, “I’m not an American, I’m a Democrat,” he said. “That’s what we’re stuck with.”

Looking ahead to the debate, Kunst said that he is unsure what to expect between Harris and Trump. 

“[Trump] had the whole thing locked in with Biden. This is a different scene. We’ll see if she can handle it and he can handle it,” Kunst said.

Kunst said he found more camaraderie than he is used to among other Trump supporters in the city, he said.

“There’s a lot more support here in Philly than I was expecting for Trump. I thought it would be a wash on the other side,” Kunst said.

Kunst has attended multiple political events in the past few years, including primary debates, national conventions, and rallies. He believes that the tides have started to turn in Trump’s favor.

“I’ve been in ten cities and I see the change that’s happening,” Kunst said. “I think the Democrats are going to wake up very surprised.”

A large IUD inflatable on Independence Mall caught the attention of passersby ahead of the debate.

Americans for Contraception, the group that set it up, advocates for accessible access to IUDs and birth control.

Chris Fleming, the organization’s spokesperson, said the group launched in 2022 after Dobbs v. Jackson was decided.

The inflatable, called “Freedom Womb,” has been traveling across the country since June and will continue to do so until November. Its next stop is Wisconsin next week, followed by Ohio the week after.

“We hope that our message gets out there and drives young people to the polls,” Fleming said. “The future of the country, the future of women’s rights, the future of reproductive rights, and the future of contraception is at stake in November.”

A large canvas emblazoned with the word “LOSER” in blue and red, inspired by the design of Trump’s promotional posters and lawn signs, sat in the middle of Independence Mall, attracting attention early Tuesday. 

Behind the canvas was Tim Smith, an artist from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, who used the other side of the poster to sketch out a large painting inspired by his feelings toward the former president.

Smith described Trump as a “proto-fascist, soon to be total fascist,” if he wins the 2024 election. To Smith, Trump is a “loser,” and a “terrible human being.”

“He was born in affluence and he chooses to treat people like shit,” Smith said, in particular condemning Trump’s treatment of disabled people. The former president received backlash after he mocked a reporter with a congenital condition and said disabled veteran and late Senator John McCain was “not a war hero,” during his 2016 presidential run.

Smith said that the piece he is working on is an abstract surrealist depiction of Trump’s 2024 election run, representing the campaign through an image of the Kraken sea monster traversing and destroying various landmarks from the last year in Trump’s personal, legal, and political history. 

The work features depictions of Trump’s legal woes over the summer from the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, where the former president received his 34-count felony conviction for falsifying business records last May, to the courthouse in D.C where he was arraigned, and as well, of course, the central gargantuan squid of folklore rendered in pink.

As Smith works on the finer details of the piece, he adds a new addition inspired by today’s events, The National Constitution Center.

Smith said he has done four similar boards all with the same theme, completing one board each year as he keeps up with the latest developments in the world of Trump.

“As things happen I’ll travel there and see what I can see and draw what I can,” Smith said.

Smith said he hopes his work can one day be publicly displayed, though he is not interested in selling it.

As the city came alive for its first presidential debate in decades, many vendors also took to the streets to try and turn a profit, while speaking their minds as well.

Alvin Jones is a vendor from Philadelphia. Standing on the corner outside Reading Terminal Market, he sells Kamala Harris pins. Jones said he has sold event-based pins for nearly every major event including Pope Francis’ visit to Philly in 2015 to Obama’s and Hillary Clinton’s rallies in the city over the years.

Jones described the city as having “energy” around the debate.

Tuesday’s debate will be moderated by ABC’s World News Tonight anchor David Muir and World News Tonight Sunday anchor Linsey Davis.

Muir got his start in journalism as an anchor and reporter at WCVB-TV in Boston and WTVH-TV in Syracuse, N.Y., his hometown, before joining ABC in 2003. Muir moderated ABC’s U.S. Presidential Debates both in 2016 and 2020. Muir has interviewed both Harris and Trump. Trump picked Muir in 2017 to conduct his first interview as President of the United States.

Davis moderated two Democratic primary debates during the 2020 presidential campaign cycle, including the third presidential debate between Trump and Biden in 2020.

In an interview with UVA Today, Davis shared her pre-debate thoughts: “We’ll certainly have a number of questions ready to go that we just run out of time for. I know that come Wednesday morning, some people are going to think ‘I can’t believe she did this. I can’t believe she didn’t do that.’ That’s just the nature of what we’re doing.”

“But my goal is to feel on Tuesday night, at 10:31 p.m., that I’ve done a service for journalism and a service for the American people.” 

The city of Philadelphia instituted some road and lane closures near the National Constitution Center ahead of Tuesday’s presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Streets will be closed from Arch to Market streets between 4th and 7th streets in the Center City area in the lead-up to the event.

Additionally, the 6th Street eastbound exit of I-676 will be closed as will the highway eastbound lanes for the Ben Franklin Bridge into New Jersey after rush hour on Tuesday. While car and pedestrian traffic will be allowed on 4th and Market streets, Arch and Race streets will remain closed for the entirety of the event, though employees who work within the restricted area can gain access through 7th and Arch street by presenting identification.

Many of the closures went into effect on Saturday and will not be lifted until Wednesday. Closed streets have multiple layers of barricaded metal fence that run the length of the roads, broken by checkpoints where PPD and Secret Service members are stationed.

Towing notices announcing “Temporary Police Regulation,” and “No Stopping” ordinances have also been attached to various telephone poles all around the downtown area with specifications for street specific regulation on them.

Philadelphia will be the center of the political universe tonight during the presidential debate, and local police say they’re prepared for protests.

State and federal law enforcement will aid the police department to secure the area around the event, Bethel said. Police will closely monitor crowds, he added.

Here’s what we know so far about protests happening ahead of Tuesday’s event:

Mummers in Philadelphia are people dressed in lavish costumes celebrating the New Year.  There are five club divisions: The Comic, The Fancy, the Wench Brigade, the String Band, and the Fancy Brigade Divisions. Philadelphia hosts the annual Mummers Parade, where “10,000 participants and hundreds of thousands of parade viewers take to the streets and sidewalks on New Year’s Day,” according to the Mummers Museum website.

— Hannah Nguyen

• Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will take the debate stage at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia tonight at 9 p.m. Here’s how to watch and stream.
• Here are the rules Harris and Trump agreed on for the debate.
• Philadelphia hosted a presidential debate nearly 50 years ago.

Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center will be the venue for Tuesday’s presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump, marking just the second time in half a decade that the historic city has hosted such an event. 

Both presidential candidates have visited Pennsylvania during their campaigns as the state continues to hold its position as an important swing state in this year’s election. The chosen venue of Philadelphia for the first debate between the candidates holds special significance as it is Pennsylvania’s largest city, where Black residents make up the largest racial group, which could be key for Harris to combat Trump’s larger margins with white voters in rural parts of the state. The latest polling data shows no clear leader in the state with both major party candidates tied.

The last time the debate came to town was during the 1976 election when Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter debated incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford at the Walnut Street Theater.

However, the Constitution Center itself has hosted similar events before, most notably the presidential primary debate in 2008 between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as well as hosting Trump and Biden during the 2020 election cycle.

The Constitution Center is a museum dedicated to education on the Constitution, which was created in response to an act signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. It opened on Sept. 17, 2000, and will become the first museum to host a general election debate on Tuesday night.

— Bryan Hecht

According to NPR, the rules at Tuesday’s debate are similar to those at the June 11 debate between Trump and President Joe Biden, who dropped out of the 2024 race on July 21. 

Microphones will be muted when a candidate is not speaking. There will not be a live audience and Harris and Trump are not allowed to directly question each other while speaking. Neither candidate is allowed to bring pre-written notes or props on stage.

— DJ Mara 

The debate, hosted by ABC News, is set to begin at 9 p.m. Eastern and will run for about an hour and a half with two commercial breaks. It will be moderated by World News Tonight anchor David Muir and World News Tonight Sunday anchor Linsey Davis.

The event will air on all major broadcast networks and cable news channels to an estimated TV audience between 60 and 70 million viewers, with more streaming the debate. The debate between Trump and President Joe Biden in June averaged more than 51 million views.

The debate can be viewed on ABC News, ABC News Live, Disney+,  YouTube TV, DirecTV, and Hulu. Other news outlets are also expected to air the debate (CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, C-Span, CNN, MSNBC, Fox Business, Fox News). 

— DJ Mara