vice president kamla Harris and former president Donald Trump faced off for the first time on the debate stage Tuesday night marking their inaugural direct encounter in the 2024 presidential race the high stakes debate took place in Philadelphia bringing together Harris and Trump in a pivotal moment for the election this event is historic not only for being their first debate of the campaign but also for being their first ever meeting the presidential race had been dramatically altered just weeks earlier when President Biden withdrew after his final debate with Biden out Trump now contends with a new Challenger in Harris the candidates are running neck and neck with polls showing them essentially tied both nationally and in critical Battleground States including Pennsylvania as the race remains tightly contested every vote and debate performance could prove crucial