Walz-Vance VP debate: Live updates, fact checks and reactions after candidates cordially face off

During Tuesday’s vice presidential debate between Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, each candidate made questionable and sometimes downright false assertions.

Those included:

• Vance's depictions of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, as "illegal immigrants"

• Walz's claim that Project 2025 calls for establishing a national "registry of pregnancies"

• Vance saying he had "never supported a national ban" on abortion

• And Walz trying to explain his statements about visiting China during the Tiananmen Square protest crackdown

Read more from Yahoo News

Yahoo News' Andrew Romano lays out four key takeaways from tonight's vice presidential debate:

Click here to read the full story.

Tim and Gwen Walz marked the end of the debate by going to a nearby pizzeria — Justino's — to grab a slice.

The Harris campaign celebrated tonight's debate with a statement from campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon:

When asked about Vance’s refusal to answer whether Trump lost the 2020 election, the senator from Arkansas responded by praiing how Vance stood up for the democratic process in the portion of the debate focused on abortion.

“I thought JD gave a very good answer on the way American democracy works. He said he has his personal views [on abortion], but the people of Ohio disagreed with him. Just like the people of California are going to have a different view than the people of Alabama or Ohio. I think he respects the American people.”

During the interview, Cotton also declined to answer a question about whether the results of the 2020 race were legitimate.

While discussing abortion policy during the debate, Tim Walz shared stories about women affected by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. One of those stories focused on Amber Thurman, a Georgia woman who died after a routine medical procedure was delayed due to the state's strict laws surrounding abortion.

Her family issued a statement following the debate:

The former president praised his running mate in a post on Truth Social, making the case that Vance showed how the nation would "never be able to recover" if Kamala Harris and Tim Walz were elected.

Both Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are heading back to the campaign trail Wednesday with events scheduled in battleground states.

Walz will kick off a bus tour through Pennsylvania, with stops in Harrisburg, Reading and York. On the third stop, Walz will be joined by Sen. John Fetterman, a York native.

Sen. JD Vance will travel to Michigan for an appearance at an aerospace company in Auburn Hills on Wednesday afternoon.

After about an hour and 40 minutes, the first and only vice presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle has concluded. Despite stark differences on policy, it was a largely cordial affair.

"I'm going to thank Sen. Vance," Walz said at one point. "I think this is the conversation [the voters] want to hear. And I think there's a lot of agreement."

It may also be the last debate before Election Day, as former President Donald Trump has not agreed to a second debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.

During a discussion about Trump's response to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, Walz pressed Vance on the former president's refusal to admit he lost the 2020 presidential election.

"This was a threat to our democracy in a way that we had not seen," Walz said. "And it manifested itself because of Donald Trump's inability to say — he is still saying — he didn't lose the election. I would just ask [you] that. Did he lose the 2020 election?"

"Tim, I'm focused on the future," Vance replied. "Did Kamala Harris censor Americans from speaking their mind in the wake of the 2020 COVID situation?"

"That is a damning nonanswer," Walz said.

Vance: “Remember, he said that on January the 6th, the protesters ought to protest peacefully and on January the 20th, what happened? Joe Biden became the president. Donald Trump left the White House.”

This claim is false. Biden did become president on Jan. 20, but only after a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to prevent Biden’s victory from being certified by Congress. To this day, Trump refuses to acknowledge his loss in the 2020 presidential election.

If you're just tuning in to the debate, here's another quick recap of what you missed:

• During the second half of the debate, the candidates sparred over numerous topics, including abortion, gun violence and health care.

• Vance and Walz expressed starkly different positions on abortion and gun laws. Vance said abortion should be left up to individual states, and denied that he and Trump would support a national abortion ban. Walz said women should be allowed to make decisions about their own bodies, regardless of where they live. "These are women's decisions," Walz said, sharing stories about women affected by the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

• In a discussion about gun violence, Walz scoffed at Vance's assertion that the focus should be on school safety and mental health. The governor suggested Vance is "looking for a scapegoat. Sometimes it just is the guns."

• On the issue of child care, Walz said that he supports paid family leave. Vance did not answer directly, saying, "We should have a family care model."

Vance: “When Obamacare was crushing under the weight of its own regulatory burden and health care costs, Donald Trump could have destroyed the program. Instead, he worked in a bipartisan way to ensure that Americans had access to affordable care.”

This claim is false. Repealing the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was a key pillar of Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign and the law only survived because a vote to end it failed by a single vote in the Senate. His administration also backed failed efforts to have the ACA struck down by the Supreme Court.

Most of Trump’s actions toward the law after the repeal effort failed involved chipping away at it, including pushing legislation that repealed the ACA’s individual mandate, cutting funding used to market the program and help people sign up, ending subsidies for insurers offering plans through Obamacare and loosening restrictions on cheaper, lower-quality plans that didn’t comply with ACA rules.

Read more from PolitiFact: “Vance misleads: Trump tried to take the Affordable Care Act down, not build upon it”

During a discussion about gun violence in schools, Vance said the focus should be on mental health and making schools safer, and not stricter gun laws. Walz disagreed while noting that he and Vice President Kamala Harris are gun owners.

“We understand that the Second Amendment is there, but our first responsibility is to our kids,” Walz said.

“This idea of stigmatizing mental health, just because you have a mental health issue doesn't mean you're violent,” Walz added. “And I think what we end up doing is we start looking for a scapegoat. Sometimes it is just the guns.”

Vance: "I never supported a national ban. I did during, when I was running for Senate in 2022, talk about setting some minimum national standard."

This claim is false. In his answer, Vance implied that he only supported national restrictions on abortions rather than an outright ban.

But during Vance's run for U.S. senator in Ohio in 2022, he said he was open to a national abortion ban. He claimed that people seeking an abortion in a state where it's illegal would be able to travel to a state where it's legal, then cited a need for a federal ban.

"I certainly would like abortion to be illegal nationally," Vance said in January 2022 on a podcast.

But since then, he has changed his tune to align with former President Trump's public stance on abortion, which is that the issue should be left to the states. Vance told Fox News in July, "My view is that Donald Trump is the leader of the Republican Party, and his views on abortion are going to be the views that dominate this party and drive this party forward."

"Let voters make these decisions," Vance said tonight. "Let the individual states make their abortion policy, and I think that's what makes the most sense."

Vance: “Tim just accused [Trump’s tariff plan] of being a national sales tax. Look, the one thing — and you're probably surprised to hear me praising Joe Biden — but the one thing that Joe Biden did is he continued some of the Trump tariffs that protected American manufacturing jobs.”

This claim needs context. By focusing only on the tariffs Trump placed on China during his presidency, Vance avoided discussion of Trump’s current proposal to levy tariffs of 10% to 20% on most foreign imports and more than 60% on Chinese goods. The vast majority of experts believe that the ultimate impact of Trump’s proposed tariffs would be negative for the average U.S. consumer because companies typically offset the extra costs they incur from tariffs by increasing prices on the goods they sell.

If you're just tuning in to the debate, here's a quick recap of what you missed:

• The candidates clashed while discussing foreign policy, climate change and immigration.

• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz began the debate by trying to paint former President Donald Trump as "dangerous" and "unfit" to return to office. Ohio Sen. JD Vance argued that Trump "actually delivered stability in the world" — by making adversaries fearful of him.

• During a discussion on the border crisis, Vance suggested Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, are there illegally. After moderator Norah O'Donnell clarified to viewers that they have legal status, Vance pushed back and the mics of both candidates were cut.

• Pressed about the claim he was in Hong Kong in 1989 when the Chinese government cracked down and massacred student-led protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, Walz said he "misspoke."

Walz: "I got there that summer and I misspoke on this. ... So I was in Hong Kong, in China, during the democracy protests."

Multiple outlets reported this week that Walz exaggerated or offered incorrect recollections when recounting trips he took to China as a teacher in the 1980s. Specifically, Walz has claimed that he was in Hong Kong in 1989 when the Chinese government cracked down and massacred student-led protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. The Washington Free Beacon, a conservative website, first reported that Walz was actually in Nebraska during the time of the military crackdown in Beijing.

CNN also reported that Walz’s claim that he visited China “about 30 times” is also likely an overstatement. The Harris campaign clarified that the true number is “likely closer to 15.” Walz taught English and U.S. history in southern China and, along with his wife, Gwen, led student tour groups to the country.

During a discussion about immigration, Vance blamed Vice President Kamala Harris for the crisis at the southern U.S. border. Walz blamed former President Donald Trump for helping block the bipartisan border security bill.

Walz also accused Trump and Vance of "dehumanizing" migrants, including Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio.

"When [Springfield] becomes a talking point like this, we dehumanize and villainize human beings," Walz said.

"The people that I'm most worried about in Springfield, Ohio, are the American citizens who have had their lives destroyed by Kamala Harris's open border," Vance said. "It is a disgrace."

After co-moderator Norah O'Donnell clarified that Haitian migrants in Springfield have legal status, Temporary Protected Status, Vance pushed back, and the mics for both candidates were cut off.

"Gentlemen, the audience can't hear you because your mics are cut," co-moderator Margaret Brennan said. "We have so much we want to get to."

Walz: "[Trump] said, you're rich as hell. I'm gonna give you a tax cut. He gave the tax cuts that predominantly went to the top class. What happened? There was an $8 trillion increase in the national debt. The largest ever."

This claim needs context. The federal debt increased by $7.8 trillion during Trump's presidency, which is more during a single term than under any other president, but less than the $9.5 trillion increase that occurred during Barack Obama's two terms. President Biden is projected to overtake the single-term debt record by the time his presidency ends in January.

However, when the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget looked at how much debt each president's policies would create in the years after they left office, they found that Trump would be responsible for twice as much debt as Biden.

Walz: "We're producing more natural gas than we ever have. There's no moratorium on that. We're producing more oil."

Walz made the claims while debating energy policy with Vance.

This claim needs more context. America's production of crude oil and natural gas increased significantly during Donald Trump's presidency, but production of both also rose even higher during Biden's term.

Under Biden and Harris, the United States has produced more crude oil than any other nation in history and became the world's top exporter of liquid natural gas while setting new records for domestic production.

Vance: “The people that I'm most worried about in Springfield, Ohio, are the American citizens who have had their lives destroyed by Kamala Harris's open border.”

This claim needs context: While there are millions of immigrants in the United States illegally, the Haitians in Springfield have the legal right to live and work here under a designation called Temporary Protected Status, which allows the Homeland Security secretary to grant people from certain nations the right to stay in the U.S. if circumstances in their home country make it unsafe for them to return.

There are hundreds of thousands of Haitians living in the U.S. under TPS, which was first granted to Haitian nationals after a devastating earthquake struck the Caribbean nation in 2010.

As Walz and Vance debated the ongoing crises in the Middle East, the Minnesota governor called attention to a past claim made by Trump.

Walz: "When Iranian missiles did fall near U.S. troops, and they received traumatic brain injuries, Donald Trump wrote it off as 'headaches.'"

This claim requires context. In 2020, an Iranian missile attack at the al-Asad airbase in Iraq left over 100 U.S. military service members with traumatic brain injuries, according to the Pentagon at the time. After the strike, Trump said that the "American people should be extremely grateful and happy no Americans were harmed in last night's attack by the Iranian regime."

Earlier today, Trump was asked if he should have had a stronger response to Iran's aggression. "What does injured mean?" he asked, downplaying the U.S. injuries. "Injured means — you mean because they had a headache? Because the bombs never hit the fort."

Vance: “This idea that carbon emissions drives all of the climate change, well, let's just say that's true just for the sake of argument, so we're not arguing about weird science.”

This claim is false. There is near unanimous belief among scientific experts that greenhouse gas emissions created by human activities cause climate change.

In the first question of the debate, both candidates were asked whether they would support or oppose a preemptive strike by Israel on Iran.

Neither answered the question directly. Walz used it to criticize former President Donald Trump's leadership, calling him "dangerous" and "unfit" for office.

After Vance introduced himself to viewers, he tried to defend his running mate.

"As much as Gov. Walz just accused Donald Trump of being an agent of chaos, Donald Trump actually delivered stability in the world," Vance said. "And he did it by establishing effective deterrence. People were afraid of stepping out of line."

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance of Ohio shook hands at the start of the vice presidential debate in New York tonight.

Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance have taken the stage, moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan have taken their seats and the 2024 vice presidential debate is underway in New York City.

Photographers on the scene in New York City captured images of protesters, billboards and everyday New Yorkers outside the site of tonight's vice presidential debate.

Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas spoke to the crowd outside the CBS Broadcast Center tonight, telling Harris-Walz supporters, "This race is going to be close. I need you to dig deep."

Meanwhile, a growing crowd of Trump supporters chanted "USA! USA!"

Yahoo News reporter Katie Mather is on the scene outside the CBS Broadcast Center in Manhattan, where a large crowd of supporters of both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has gathered ahead of tonight's vice presidential debate.

Former President Donald Trump was asked tonight what his advice to his running mate would be ahead of the debate.

"Have fun. JD, have fun," Trump replied, speaking at a freewheeling press conference in Milwaukee. "We have a big deal going on."

"JD, have a lot of fun," he continued. "He's a smart guy. He's been amazing. He's been a real warrior. Top student at Yale. He was a very brilliant guy in so many different ways. And you know he's a very hard worker. He goes around and he's not afraid of the media."

Vans with digital ads criticizing JD Vance were seen outside the CBS Broadcast Center in Manhattan hours before Tuesday night’s debate. One of the vans had a billboard paid for by MoveOn.org — a progressive organizing group and political action committee — calling on Vance to release his tax returns.

Another billboard, paid for by the Harris campaign, highlighted one of Vance’s pointed comments about Trump in 2016.

And another paid for by the Democratic National Committee mocked Trump for refusing to agree to a second debate against Vice President Kamala Harris.

A pickup truck decorated with pro-Trump and Vance flags drove by CBS News studios earlier in the day.

Several Trump campaign surrogates are expected to be in the spin room after tonight's vice presidential debate, according to NBC News. They include:

• Donald Trump Jr.

• Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama

• Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas

• Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York

• Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida

Several Harris campaign surrogates are expected to be in the spin room, an area where candidates and their representatives can talk to reporters after the event, according to multiple outlets. They include:

• Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota

• Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona

• Sen. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico

• Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado

• Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois

• Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas

• Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison

CBS News is rolling out a new feature for viewers to fact-check statements in real time during tonight's debate between Sen. JD Vance and Gov. Tim Walz.

A QR code will appear onscreen throughout the broadcast. When a viewer scans it with their smartphone, they'll be directed to a CBSNews.com live blog. The feature is exclusive to CBS, so viewers on other networks won't have access to the code.

As reported by the New York Times, around 20 CBS journalists will provide real-time updates on the accuracy of the candidates' remarks via the CBS News website, accessible through the QR code.

Unlike the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on ABC, where moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis fact-checked candidates on the spot, CBS moderators Norah O'Donnell and Margaret Brennan are not expected to engage in real-time fact-checking during the debate tonight.

While preparing for Tuesday night’s debate, both candidates used stand-ins for their opponents in mock sessions.

Sen. JD Vance recruited Republican Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota to play Tim Walz in mock sessions.

Appearing on ABC’s "This Week" on Sunday, Emmer explained his approach for emulating Walz.

“I spent the last month just going back, all of his old stuff, to get his phrases down, his mannerisms, that sort of thing,” Emmer said. “My job was to be able to play Tim Walz so JD Vance knows what he’s going to see.”

Walz, for his part, used Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. According to Politico, Buttigieg showed up dressed as Vance in a “cheap red tie” instead of his usual attire.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz reportedly voiced concerns to his running mate, Kamala Harris, during the vetting process that he might struggle in a debate setting, according to CNN.

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar told the news outlet that while Walz is a "strong person," he is "just not a lawyer-debater type."

To bolster his confidence, Walz has been preparing through intense mock debates, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg standing in for his opponent, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.

Walz is expected to challenge Vance’s conservative views on reproductive rights and LGBTQ issues at tonight's debate.

There have been no announcements or agreements for a second vice presidential debate.

Regarding another presidential debate, Vice President Kamala Harris has committed to a CNN-hosted debate against former President Donald Trump on Oct. 23. However, Trump mentioned during a rally on Sept. 21 that a second debate is “just too late" and that "voting has already started.”

Read more about the debate here.

Tonight’s 90-minute debate will begin at 9 p.m. ET and take place at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City, a city that is a Democratic stronghold and Trump’s former home.

The debate will air live on CBS, and it will be livestreamed on all platforms where CBS News 24/7 and Paramount+ are available. The network will also simulcast the event on its YouTube channel.

Yahoo News will also provide real-time coverage and analysis from its editorial team.

Read more about the debate here.

The 90-minute debate will be audience-free and neither candidate is allowed to interact with their campaign staff during the two four-minute breaks.

Walz and Vance will each have a pen, pad of paper and water bottle. No props or prepped notes allowed.

Each candidate gets two minutes to answer questions, followed by one-minute rebuttals, with an additional minute at the discretion of the moderators — "CBS Evening News" anchor Norah O'Donnell, and host of CBS's "Face the Nation" Margaret Brennan.

Both candidates will also have two minutes for closing statements, with Vance delivering his second after winning a coin toss on Sept. 26.

Read more about the debate here.

A small group of climate activists from the Sunrise Movement, which advocates for ending major fossil fuel production, blocked 57th Street in Manhattan outside the CBS Broadcast Center, where tonight’s debate is being held.

Photos shared on social media show the protesters holding signs that read "Big Oil Caused Hurricane Helene" and "CBS, Report Like It." In a post on X this morning, the group pressured CBS to ask candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz about climate change and Hurricane Helene during the debate.

In a news release, Sunrise Movement said six protesters were arrested by the NYPD.