Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump went head to head on Monday in the first of three highly-anticipated debates ahead of the vote 8 November. Their meeting on stage was predictably fiery, with the two candidates clashing on everything from race to temperament and taxes. So, who impressed and who didn’t? We gathered our readers views.
A Trump presidency is looking more likely
It was like watching a shark fighting a guinea pig in water
This was kind of like a shark fighting against a guinea pig in deep, ocean water.
In that: Trump kind of looks like a guinea pig, and smells like a guinea pig (probably), and talks as much sense as a guinea pig.
(No shark-related comparisons for Hilary, she just ate the guinea pig. Simple.)
Trump should have watched the West Wing season four
Mr Trump does not only hold strange views about a variety of things, the self-proclaimed "healthiest candidate ever" is physically and mentally unfit to run for president.
The general impression was that here is an old, bittered man who shouts when he should listen, and who is obviously unable to keep his focus for more than 30 minutes. Not only is the word salad that comes out of his mouth close to unintelligable, he is also incapable of following a discussion thread. Example Iran deal: Trump states that this is a bad deal for America - okay, it is his right to say that. But then Mrs Clinton answers to his criticism and lays out how she sees things. Now Trump should pick up her arguments again and answer to those. Instead he sticks with his superficial "Iran deal bad deal" catch phrase.
Trump should have watched "The West Wing", season four. "Ten word answers can kill you in debates."
Dear Obama, can you stick around please?
Dear Obama could you stay on for another four years please? It would give both parties the time to maybe train or educate some candidates to show themselves worthy and have some statesmen like qualities the American people and the world deserve and can vote for.
Clinton disappointed. She was not inspiring
Clinton disappointed me. She certainly managed to stay on her feet and make broad decent points but it was weary (understandably) and not inspiring.
Trump: perhaps he needed an antihistamine... Or was the sniffle from something taken to keep him jumping? There seemed something more than mundane hypernarcissism in his disinhibition.
Trump just needed to avoid a train-wreck and he did that
I must have watched the wrong programme because I thought Donald did ok and was the winner for the first third of the debate. Probably drew the middle third but lost the final third. Considering that he is not an experienced politician he did fine. All he needed to do anyway was avoid a train wreck of a debate and he certainly did that.
Trump came out looking more presidential
Clinton didn't address any of the issues important to the American people: immigration, offshoring, foreign wars - and her reckless baiting of Russia. I guess that's a difficult task, as she's been heavily involved in all of it. All she could do was ask about Trump's tax return. Once the dust settles it will be clear that Trump came out looking more presidential.
These debates are pointless, bring on the vote
I think these debates are pointless. Of course Clinton is going to win based on the normal criteria of debates - using logical arguments and facts to prove a series of points. Trump, on the other hand, will just string together meaningless clichés, abuse, half truths and lies, but the point is: his supporters just don't care.
So forget the debates, bring on the vote. Just don't be surprised if the voice of unreason wins, and if it does, let's hope Trump proves to be the isolationist he claims to be. That way most of the damage will be limited to America, not the rest of the world.
Why defend Trump? We all know that he blew it
The end of the debate tells you everything you needed to know- Clinton swiftly moved forward after 90 minutes to shake hands, talk to the audience and stayed a long time. Trump stayed well back on stage corralled by his family then promptly disappeared. Why defend him. He knew himself he'd blown it.
A Trump presidency certainly looks like more of a possibility now than say, six months ago, which is a worrying thought. But honestly, through this whole pantomime it's become abundantly clear that they're both villains. Whatever we think of Westminster, the US political freakshow is a million miles from where we are.