Watch: Donald Trump repeatedly mentioning Biden during debate despite Harris being new opponent

In the ABC News presidential debate, former President Donald Trump continually redirected attention away from his current opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, and instead targeted President Joe Biden. Trump repeatedly tied Harris to Biden, stating, "She is Biden. She's trying to get away from Biden." He blamed Biden's administration for inflation and energy issues, claiming, "The worst inflation we've ever had... and she can't get away with that."

While Harris outlined her own policy proposals, Trump focused on the Biden administration’s perceived failures, emphasising inflation and energy costs. He also refused to acknowledge his 2020 election loss, remarking, "I don't acknowledge that at all," when asked directly if he accepted Biden’s victory.

In response to Trump’s repeated assertions that she was an extension of Biden, Harris firmly countered, "Well, first of all, it's important to remind the former president you're not running against Joe Biden" and  “Clearly, I am not Joe Biden, and I am certainly not Donald Trump’ She stressed her vision for a "new generation of leadership" and highlighted policies to support middle-class families and small businesses. Among her plans, she detailed a $50,000 tax deduction for start-up businesses and a $6,000 tax credit for young families in their first year of parenthood. Harris framed her leadership as an opportunity to move beyond the divisive rhetoric, focusing on building opportunities and solutions.

The debate also reignited Trump's long-standing refusal to accept the 2020 election results, a stance that continues to draw controversy as he remains steadfast in his belief that the election was "stolen."