Kamala Harris and Donald Trump face off in US presidential debate

Trump and Harris began the debate by shaking hands, but there were some heated discussions on many key issues

It was a big night for American voters, with Kamala Harris and Donald Trump going head to head in a live TV debate ahead of their race to become the next leader of the United States.

A debate is a way for people with different views to argue against each other in an organised way. This happens between the two main candidates in every US presidential election.

Kamala Harris is the current vice-president and entered the campaign after President Joe Biden ruled himself out of the race in July.

Former president Donald Trump is hoping to return to the office after losing the 2020 election.

In their very first debate, Trump and Harris clashed on healthcare, immigration and foreign policy - which is when governments set out plans on how they work with other countries.

What was discussed during the debate?

Kamala Harris focused on trying to shake Trump with personal attacks, saying that people often left his rallies early because they were bored, as well as blaming the former president for the 2021 riots at the US Capitol.

Donald Trump said that the vice-president "has no policy", and criticised her for how the Biden government - where she has been working for the last four years - has handled the economy.

Harris said that Trump was “weak and wrong on national security and foreign policy”, saying that his loss of the 2020 presidential election was a sign he was "fired by 81 million people".

Trump criticised Harris for being part of President Joe Biden's team, saying that the Biden administration has led to inflation in the US, which is the rising cost of goods and services.

The former president said that this "has been a disaster for people".

Trump also made a claim that immigrants living in Springfield, Ohio, were "eating the pets of the people that live there" - something that the moderator of the debate said there was no evidence for.

The BBC's Marianna Spring also said that these were "unfounded claims that started on social media".

One of the most talked about moments of the night was when Harris mocked Trump for his rallies, saying that people often leave his campaign rallies early "out of exhaustion and boredom".

The former president hit back, saying: "My rallies, we have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics."

What did people say about the US presidential debate?

Many people felt that Donald Trump had been rattled by Kamala Harris' personal attacks, leading him to raise his voice and make angry responses.

Others felt that Harris could have gone into more detail about what her plans are if she becomes the next president, and was seen by some to be light on policy.

A snap CNN poll of voters watching the debate said that Harris had performed better on the night.

Republican commentators have complained about what they thought was unfair hosting by ABC, the broadcaster showing the debate. They say that the moderators pushed back on Trump's points too much.

The live TV debate lasted for an hour and a half

Who won the US presidential debate?

Both Donald Trump's Republican Party and Kamala Harris' Democratic Party - the two main political parties in the US - claimed their candidate had 'won' the debate after it had finished.

According to online prediction website PredictIt, Trump's chances of victory at the 2024 election decreased by 5% during the debate, whereas Harris' increased by 2%.

Harris has challenged Trump to a second debate, but speaking to Fox News, Trump was less keen.

"She wants it because she lost," he said. "I have to think about it, but if you won the debate, I sort of think maybe I shouldn't do it."

The US presidential election will take place this November.