Donald Trump concluded his presidential debate against Joe Biden with a grim warning that a Democrat presidency would lead to a depression "the likes of which you have never seen". The candidates clashed on issues including China, COVID-19, North Korea, race and tax.
Donald Trump sent a grim warning if Joe Biden wins the US election as he clashed with him on issues including COVID-19, tax, race and North Korea.
Referencing 401k plans, America's company-sponsored retirement schemes, the President said: "Your 401ks will go to hell and it will be a very sad day for this country."
In his final remarks, Mr Biden said he would represent all Americans not they voted for him or not.
"We're going to choose science over fiction; we're going to choose hope over fear. What is on the ballot here is the character of this country: decency, honour, respect, treating people with dignity," Mr Biden said.
"Making sure that everyone has an even chance. And I'm going to make sure you get that. You haven't been getting it the last four years."
Mr Biden said he would represent all Americans whether or not they voted for him or not.
"We're going to choose science over fiction; we're going to choose hope over fear."
As the debate continued, Mr Biden argued for law reforms to solve race issues and he wanted to raise the minimum wage.
Mr Trump said he would consider raising the minimum wage, but only if he was convinced it would not hurt struggling small businesses.
Mr Trump also said he had a very good relationship with Kim Jong-un, as Mr Biden accused him of befriending "thugs" like the leaders of North Korea and Russia while poking allies in the eye.
On foreign interference in US elections, Mr Trump said Mr Biden "got $3.5 million from Russia."
Then the President moved onto allegations regarding emails reported by the New York Post this week about alleged business dealings with Russia by the Biden family.
Mr Biden said nothing was unethical about his business dealings.
Earlier, Mr Trump talked about his own bout with COVID-19 and said he has been "cured" and is now "immune".
Mr Biden wasted no time slamming him for his administration's failure to contain coronavirus, saying 200,000 Americans would die before the end of the year.
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Originally published as Donald Trump takes on Joe Biden in final presidential debate in Nashville
Just in from the TAB, Donald Trump has firmed to win the 2020 US Election following the final debate today, in from $2.70 to $2.45 with TAB.
As a result Joe Biden, who was as short as $1.47 over the last 24 hours, remains favourite but has drifted to $1.55.
Overall, Mr Trump remains the best backed at TAB with approximately 70% of the market.
Just in from the TAB, Donald Trump has firmed to win the 2020 US Election following the final debate today, in from $2.70 to $2.45 with TAB.
As a result Joe Biden, who was as short as $1.47 over the last 24 hours, remains favourite but has drifted to $1.55.
Overall, Mr Trump remains the best backed at TAB with approximately 70% of the market.
Not surprisingly, opinion was divided in the US over who won the debate.
A Fox 8 poll in the US said an hour after the debate concluded that 59% of people believed Mr Trump won the debate compared to 41% for Mr Biden.
Influential Fox commentator Sean Hannity said the moderator interrupted Mr Trump 30 times, compared to just twice for Mr Biden.
A small group of undecided North Carolina voters pulled together by CNN said after the debate that they were much happier with the substance of tonight's debate than the first face off.
In the group of undecideds, nine people said they thought Biden won. None raised their hand for Trump.
CNN's "instant poll" said an hour after the debate that Joe Biden won the debate by 53% to 39% – compared to a winning margin of 60% to 28% in the first debate.
Meanwhile, an instant poll run by a TV station in Rhode Island said Biden won the debate by 61% to 36%.
– Nathan Vass
The debate has now concluded. Please scroll down for all the highlights and what each candidate said.
The crowd at the Nashville bar watch-party said Mr Trump came out ahead, one person saying that it was mainly because he managed to stay out of his own way.
“I am really proud of President Trump for keeping his mouth shut when he was supposed to keep his mouth shut,” said Rachel Klein.
“If you watched while Biden was speaking he never tried to jump in he (Trump) just listened and made those facial expressions so we all knew what he was thinking, he didn’t have go say it.”
But Ms Klein said Mr Trump stumbled on answering the last question because instead of talking about the future he became caught up in another attack on Mr Biden.
Pictures: Angus Mordant
“I think Trump made some really good points,” she said.
“I do think that Trump made a misstep on this last question because he should have continued to say what he would have said on Inauguration Day.
“He went into who Biden is and we won’t care who Biden was on Inauguration Day.
“I would like to have heard what he would have said to the people who hate him and didn’t want him to be elected.
“I wanted to hear him say I am your American president and let’s come together. I was disappointed in that last question, for sure.”
– Sarah Blake in Nashville
Mr Trump said Mr Biden was totally against fracking. He said black and hispanic people were making "a tremendous amount of money" out of the oil and gas industries.
The President said that "before the plague", the US had the best job numbers ever for black, hispanic and Asian communities, as well as for women.
"Everybody had the best numbers. Success is going to bring us together. I'm going to cut taxes and he wants to raise taxes and put new regulations on everything.
"He will kill it. If he gets in we will have a depression the likes of which we have never seen."
– Nathan Vass
Moving to the final section of the debate, on the issue of leadership, Biden said he would represent all Americans whether or not they voted for him or not.
"We're going to choose science over fiction; we're going to choose hope over fear."
"What is on the ballot here is the character of this country: decency, honour, respect, treating people with dignity," Biden said. "Making sure that everyone has an even chance. And I'm going to make sure you get that. You haven't been getting that the last four years."
– David Mills
Mr Trump claimed the US had achieved its "best carbon emission numbers" in 35 years under his administration.
"Look at China, how filthy it is," Mr Trump said, adding: "Look at Russia, look at India, filthy, the air is filthy".
He said he left the Paris Accord "because we were going to have to spend trillions of dollars and we were treated very unfairly".
"I will not sacrifice tens of millions of jobs and tens of thousands of businesses because of the Paris Accord," Mr Trump told the debate.
"It was so unfair. China doesn't kick in til 2030, Russia goes back to a low standard. It would have destroyed our businesses."
Mr Trump said the US had the "cleanest water, the cleanest air and the best carbon emissions standards" in "many years". Mr Trump said the Green New Deal – promoted by far-left members of the Democrats – would cost $US100 trillion, claiming Mr Biden was tied to the deal in a move he branded "crazy".
– Nathan Vass
Mr Trump claimed the US had achieved its "best carbon emission numbers" in 35 years under his administration.
"Look at China, how filthy it is," Mr Trump said, adding: "Look at Russia, look at India, filthy, the air is filthy".
He said he left the Paris Accord "because we were going to have to spend trillions of dollars and we were treated very unfairly".
"I will not sacrifice tens of millions of jobs and tens of thousands of businesses because of the Paris Accord," Mr Trump told the debate.
"It was so unfair. China doesn't kick in til 2030, Russia goes back to a low standard. It would have destroyed our businesses."
Mr Trump said the US had the "cleanest water, the cleanest air and the best carbon emissions standards" in "many years". Mr Trump said the Green New Deal – promoted by far-left members of the Democrats – would cost $US100 trillion, claiming Mr Biden was tied to the deal in a move he branded "crazy".
– Nathan Vass
Mr Trump doubled down on his claim not to be racist. "The first time I ever heard about Black Lives Matter, they were chanting … 'pigs', talking about our police" Mr Trump told the debate.
"I said, 'that's a horrible thing,' and they were marching down the street and that was my first glimpse of Black Lives Matter.
"I thought it was a terrible thing. I am the least racist person in this room."
"I don't know what else to say, I got criminal justice reform done, I got prison reform done, opportunity zones, I took care of black colleges and universities – I don't know what to say. They can say anything. It is basically sad.
"I am the least racist person. I can't even see the audience because it's too dark, but I can tell you, I am the least racist person in this room."
He pointed at Mr Biden as they argued over whether Mr Trump had claimed to be Abraham Lincoln.
"You have done nothing other than the crime bill which put tens of thousands of black men in jail."
– Nathan Vass