Donald Trump clashes with Joe Biden in the crucial last debate of the presidential campaign

Thanks for following our live blog on the final US presidential debate. 

You can get more news and updates on the SBS News website, on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts - and of course the 630pm bulletin on the telly. 

The countdown till election day continues!

- Rashida Yosufzai

• Donald Trump adopted a much more restrained approach to the debate - perhaps taking heed of his advisers to win over crucial voters; and perhaps in response to the new mute button on the debate microphones.
• On the topic of forced separation of migrant children at the US border, the president could not give a more substantive answer on plans to reunite over 500 children who remain without their parents. He said his government was “working hard” to bring them back together.
• Mr Trump claimed he was the “least racist” person in a response to a question about Black Lives Matter, adding bar Abraham Lincoln he had done the most for African Americans than any other president. Joe Biden responded with a quip: “ "Abraham Lincoln here is one of the most racist presidents we have had in American history."
• Mr Trump repeatedly attacked Mr Biden and his son’s business deals in Ukraine, alleging - without evidence - the Bidens made money while he was Vice President. “They’re like a vacuum cleaner,” the president said. Mr Biden repeatedly denied the allegations.
• Mr Biden vowed that Russia and Iran would “pay a price” for interfering in the US election.
• He also offered a starkly different vision for the country than Mr Trump: one about unity and respect. Mr Trump promised Americans an economic recovery from the pandemic.

There was a distinct sense of - shall we say even - decorum amongst the candidates this time.

The decision to mute the microphones completely changed the flow and tone of this debate.

In fact, the moderator of the first debate, Fox News' Chris Wallace, had pangs of envy at the success of peer Kristen Welker in keeping the candidates in check this time.

CNN’s Jake Tapper said Mr Trump “behaved more like a regular person might” but “he did lie like Pinochhio”.

At a time where divisions - political, racial and religious - appear to run deep in the US, the pair is asked about what they would say to Americans who didn’t vote for them.

Mr Trump promises an economic recovery post-pandemic.

“Success is going to bring us together. We are on the road to success,” he says.

Mr Biden uses a different tone: one of a call for unity, saying it’s about hope.“What is on the ballot here is the character of this country: decency, honour, respect, treating people with dignity. 

“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.”

And that’s a wrap. The final debate is over. Twelve more days to go until polling day.

Moving on to climate change, the candidates are asked about how they will balance action on climate change and economic growth.

Mr Trump insists the US has the “lowest numbers in carbon emissions”, before turning the attack on other countries.

“Look at China. How filthy it is. Look at Russia. Look at India ... it’s filthy. The air is filthy.”

He says he won’t sacrifice jobs because of the Paris agreement.

Mr Biden says climate change is an “existential threat to humanity”. 

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“We have a moral obligation to deal with it."

The pair then trade barbs over Mr Biden’s policy on fracking - the Democrat says he will rule out banning it, but Mr Trump claims he’ll just change his mind again.

Mr Biden vows to have the US rejoin the Paris accord and make China, “abide by what they agreed to”.Mr Trump claims that will cost “trillions”.

Mr Trump is asked about his criticism and hostility towards the Black Lives Matter movement - but he insists he is the “least racist person in this room”, pointing to his record on criminal justice and prison reform.

“I can't even see the audience because it is so dark but I don't care who was in the audience. I am the least racist person in this room,” he says.

Mr Biden tries his hand at a joke but it’s lost in the fog of debate.

“Abraham Lincoln here is one of the most racist presidents we have had in modern history. He pours fuel in every single racist fire, every single one,” he says.

Mr Trump asks about the reference to Lincoln, and where it came from.

“I said, ‘not since Abraham Lincoln has anyone done what I have done for the Black community, I did not say I am Abraham Lincoln.” 

Well that’s clarified.

The candidates are asked about the reports that over 500 children migrant children still have not been reunited with their parents.

Mr Trump says the children are brought to the US by “coyotes” i.e. people smugglers.

“Lots of bad people, cartels, and they are brought here and they used to use them to get into our country. We now have as strong a border as we have ever had,” he said.

Mr Biden points to the heartbreaking pictures of children behind cages that emerged at the height of the migrant crisis.

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"They got separated from their parents. And it makes us a laughingstock and violates every notion of who we are as a nation."

He vows to pledge to give legal status for 11 million undocumented people.

Mr Trump bites back, pointing out that forced separation was also a policy under the Obama administration.

“Who built the cages Joe?,” he says.

For all those readers wondering what this talk of coyotes is about, no they don't literally mean wild dogs are carrying kids across the border. 

Coyote is a term for the people smugglers paid to take people from Mexico into the United States. 

Joe Biden has a reputation for good old-fashioned straight talking. 

We guess that explains "malarkey". 

Mr Trump repeats his attacks on Mr Biden’s family, saying they made money while he was Vice President.

“They’re like a vacuum cleaner,” the president says.

Mr Biden says Mr Trump’s impeachment hearings showed he did the job “impeccably” and they found no evidence of any wrongdoing.

The discussion moves onto working class families - but Mr Biden ties them together, saying there’s a reason why Mr Trump was bringing up “all this malarkey”. 

“There is a reason for it. He doesn't want to talk about the substance of issues. It is not about his family and my family. It is about your family. And your family is hurting badly,” he says, again looking directly at the camera.

Moving on to national security, the pair is asked about reports that Russia and Iran are seeking to interfere with the election.

Mr Biden vows those countries that interfere with American sovereignty will “pay a price”.

“Any country, no matter who it is, that interferes with American elections will pay a price. They will pay a price.”

READ MORE

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Mr Biden attacks Rudy Guiliani, saying he has been “used as a Russian pawn”.

Mr Trump uses the question to attack Mr Biden, alleging he received millions of dollars from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He says the FBI disclosure shows both Russia and Iran wanted him to lose.

Mr Trump is using New York as an example of what he says are draconian coronavirus lockdown measures.

He says New York is a “ghost town”. 

“Take a look at New York what has happened to my wonderful city for so many years. I loved it, it was vibrant but now it is dying and everybody is leaving New York,” he says.

“These are restaurants that are dying. These are businesses with no money.”

It looks like New Yorkers disagree. 

Donald Trump has come up with a quote for the ages while trying to shift coronavirus blame to China. 

"I take full responsibility," the president starts. 

"It's not my fault."

Go figure.