Presidential Election Debates: The Third Debate Between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton (2016)
The third and final presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton took place on October 19, 2016. It was held at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, and was moderated by Chris Wallace of Fox News. The debate began with Wallace asking the candidates what their criteria would be for filling vacancies on the United States Supreme Court. Both expressed different visions, with Clinton expressing the hope that the court would overturn the Citizen's United decision, support Roe v. Wade and permit reasonable limitations on gun ownership. Trump reluctantly acknowledged that he wants Roe v. Wade overturned so that the issue of abortion can become a matter for each state to decide.
The most talked about moment of the debate was when Trump was asked by moderator Chris Wallace whether he would accept the election's results. Trump replied: "I will look at it at the time." He continued to use the word "rigged" in complaining about media bias, inaccurate voter rolls and the FBI's decision not to charge Clinton over her use of a private email server. Wallace pressed on about whether Trump would accept the election's outcome, Trump said "I will keep you in suspense." Clinton responded by saying "That's horrifying."
Trump was asked by Wallace about the multiple women who have come forward accusing him of sexual assault since the second presidential debate. Clinton pointed out that Trump's defense, used repeatedly at rallies, has been to suggest the women weren't attractive enough. She said, "Donald thinks belittling women makes him bigger. He goes after their dignity, their self-worth, and I don't think there is a woman anywhere who doesn't know what that feels like," she said. When Trump replied "nobody has more respect for women than I do," Wallace had to admonish the crowd, which had started laughing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was referenced at the debate as Clinton deflected a question about hacked email into an accusation that Putin was behind the hacking and that what the Russian wanted was a Trump presidency. She referred to Trump as "Putin's puppet." When Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin would rather deal with him than Clinton, she said: "Well that's because he'd rather have a puppet as president of the United States." Trump later said "But if the United States got along with Russia, that wouldn't be so bad."
Trump once again attacked Clinton for failing to achieve change during her 30 years in public service. He said that Clinton has "been in a position to help," but "the problem is, you talk, but you don't get anything done, Hillary. You don't." Clinton replied, "You know, back in the 1970s, I worked for the Children's Defense Fund, and I was taking on discrimination against African-American kids in schools. He was getting sued by the Justice Department for racial discrimination in his apartment buildings. In the 1980s, I was working to reform the schools in Arkansas. He was borrowing $14 million from his father to start his businesses. In the 1990s, I went to Beijing and I said women's rights are human rights. He insulted a former Miss Universe, Alicia Machado, called her an eating machine. And on the day when I was in the Situation Room, monitoring the raid that brought Osama bin Laden to justice, he was hosting the 'Celebrity Apprentice.'"
Trump began the debate calmly, but towards the end his frustration began to show as he interrupted Clinton at one point, leaning into the microphone and saying: "Such a nasty woman." Generally the dislike that the candidates have for one another was palpable, with the two refusing to shake hands at the end of the debate.
A CNN/ORC instant poll found 52% of debate watchers viewed Clinton as the winner compared to 39% who felt the same about Trump. But a deeper look at the poll results presents a picture of a much closer race. Half of voters (50%) who watched the debate said that Clinton agreed with them more on the important issues, while 47% thought Trump did. They thought Clinton had the better understanding of the issues by a wider margin (61% to 31%), and that she was better prepared to handle the presidency (59% to 35%). The poll also disclosed that most voters' minds weren't changed by the debate. 54% of those who watched said that the debate would have no effect on their vote, and those who did feel swayed were about evenly split between Trump (23%) and Clinton (22%).
Voters who watched were also divided on the question of who would better handle the economy (50% said Clinton, 48% Trump), immigration (50% Trump to 48% Clinton), and nominations to the Supreme Court (49% said Trump, 48% Clinton). Clinton held a narrow edge on handling the federal budget (50% to 46%) and was also seen as better able to handle foreign policy (55% to 41%).
The most talked about moment of the debate was when Trump was asked by moderator Chris Wallace whether he would accept the election's results. Trump replied: "I will look at it at the time." He continued to use the word "rigged" in complaining about media bias, inaccurate voter rolls and the FBI's decision not to charge Clinton over her use of a private email server. Wallace pressed on about whether Trump would accept the election's outcome, Trump said "I will keep you in suspense." Clinton responded by saying "That's horrifying."
Trump was asked by Wallace about the multiple women who have come forward accusing him of sexual assault since the second presidential debate. Clinton pointed out that Trump's defense, used repeatedly at rallies, has been to suggest the women weren't attractive enough. She said, "Donald thinks belittling women makes him bigger. He goes after their dignity, their self-worth, and I don't think there is a woman anywhere who doesn't know what that feels like," she said. When Trump replied "nobody has more respect for women than I do," Wallace had to admonish the crowd, which had started laughing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was referenced at the debate as Clinton deflected a question about hacked email into an accusation that Putin was behind the hacking and that what the Russian wanted was a Trump presidency. She referred to Trump as "Putin's puppet." When Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin would rather deal with him than Clinton, she said: "Well that's because he'd rather have a puppet as president of the United States." Trump later said "But if the United States got along with Russia, that wouldn't be so bad."
Trump once again attacked Clinton for failing to achieve change during her 30 years in public service. He said that Clinton has "been in a position to help," but "the problem is, you talk, but you don't get anything done, Hillary. You don't." Clinton replied, "You know, back in the 1970s, I worked for the Children's Defense Fund, and I was taking on discrimination against African-American kids in schools. He was getting sued by the Justice Department for racial discrimination in his apartment buildings. In the 1980s, I was working to reform the schools in Arkansas. He was borrowing $14 million from his father to start his businesses. In the 1990s, I went to Beijing and I said women's rights are human rights. He insulted a former Miss Universe, Alicia Machado, called her an eating machine. And on the day when I was in the Situation Room, monitoring the raid that brought Osama bin Laden to justice, he was hosting the 'Celebrity Apprentice.'"
Trump began the debate calmly, but towards the end his frustration began to show as he interrupted Clinton at one point, leaning into the microphone and saying: "Such a nasty woman." Generally the dislike that the candidates have for one another was palpable, with the two refusing to shake hands at the end of the debate.
A CNN/ORC instant poll found 52% of debate watchers viewed Clinton as the winner compared to 39% who felt the same about Trump. But a deeper look at the poll results presents a picture of a much closer race. Half of voters (50%) who watched the debate said that Clinton agreed with them more on the important issues, while 47% thought Trump did. They thought Clinton had the better understanding of the issues by a wider margin (61% to 31%), and that she was better prepared to handle the presidency (59% to 35%). The poll also disclosed that most voters' minds weren't changed by the debate. 54% of those who watched said that the debate would have no effect on their vote, and those who did feel swayed were about evenly split between Trump (23%) and Clinton (22%).
Voters who watched were also divided on the question of who would better handle the economy (50% said Clinton, 48% Trump), immigration (50% Trump to 48% Clinton), and nominations to the Supreme Court (49% said Trump, 48% Clinton). Clinton held a narrow edge on handling the federal budget (50% to 46%) and was also seen as better able to handle foreign policy (55% to 41%).