LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 19:  Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (L) speaks as Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton looks on during the third U.S. presidential debate at the Thomas & Mack Center on October 19, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tonight is the final debate ahead of Election Day on November 8.  (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
© Getty

Emotions ran high as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump faced off in the final presidential debate on Wednesday. The event came amid record-breaking unfavourability ratings for both candidates, whose heated performances at the first two debates demonstrated how divisive the US presidential race has been.

Discussion about the election has been roaring in the FT comments for months. As the third and last debate approaches, we’d like to collect your thoughts in one place.

How have the three debates shaped your perception of Clinton and Trump? What expectations did you have for the third debate and did it provide you with any helpful insight about the candidates? What moments stood out? What do you want out of the final weeks leading up to the election? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

This page will serve as a hub for your reactions to the third presidential debate. We will be updating it regularly with top comments from social media and around FT.com.

Please keep it civil and thoughtful, and mind our community guidelines.

. . .

Clinton won it

"Hillary won. Trump did not really needle her when he needed to. He rambled on about the same points. Hillary addressed the questions asked for the most part, and she also made some valid new points (for example on abortion and on Trump's lack of experience in government). It was also clear in terms of who stayed after the debate to meet and greet the audience, and who ran for the exits." -Patrick M. Crowley

"Trump has a habit of shooting himself in the foot. There were so many times in this debate when HRC was cornered and looking uncomfortable including on 'pay to play' issues with regards to the Clinton Foundation. But every time he tried to butt in with some cheeky or convoluted remark, thus opening ways for her to either pivot or avoid answering the question altogether . . . Even worse, it let HRC go into her bombastic rant about his lack of respect for institutions without answering the same question herself. That was a rookie mistake and just showed his lack of preparation." -coolhead

"Trump brought a knife to a gun fight. It's over . . . The fact that he won't signal to his people that they should have respect for the outcome of the election is, quite frankly, a horrible precedent. He's going to get smoked in the general election. The only question is how supposedly smart, tough guys like Bush, Rubio and Cruz couldn't find the dirt on him and take him down before the Clintons did. Bush had what, a $100M war chest?" -Jack Russell

“These debates are free advertising for the candidates, but they do give us an insight into how the candidates might behave in pressing circumstances: Hillary remains calm and cool with good answers and a presidential air — DJT is what he is supposed to be — an incendiary designed to do maximum damage in confined space.” -MikeJ

Trump triumphed

"From his last two bad/mediocre performances, I think Trump pipped this one. Clinton looked uncomfortable several times during the debate and appeared to be "winging" it on several issues, especially emails and the Foundation's credibility. Trump's appeal to the working class struck a more emotive cause. Both, though, looked hopeless on the repair to the economy apart from "trust in me" comments. What a pair to have to choose from!" -Dauphin

“This third debate was by far the best in terms of the time devoted to actual policy differences. Yet what to the media focus on but a statement that Trump will decide on the day whether he accepts the result or not. Well, suppose he doesn’t accept the result — what exactly does this mean? The only thing that Trump can do is to go to the Courts and since they are not in his pocket, the election process was either legitimate or it wasn’t. This Presidential election has brought out all that is unhealthy about the media’s obsession with spin and sensationalism.” -Stephen T

We all lost

“Until the establishment somehow comes up with someone genuinely capable and with innovative ideas, as well as is morally upright as a presidential candidate, it may be better to stick with the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” -Tuppence

"If you would stop watching this as a debate and more like the reality TV that it's become, then you could have a lot more fun with our doomed future." -BasilP

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2024. All rights reserved.
Reuse this content (opens in new window) CommentsJump to comments section

Follow the topics in this article

Comments