Donald Trump vs Joe Biden presidential debate: Key highlights

US President and Republic nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden indulged in a combative spar on Friday(local time). Just two weeks ahead of the November election, Trump and Biden shred light on important topics including health care, the economy and nation's response to the covid-19 pandemic in the final debate.

To much surprise, unlike other debates, the two candidates gave each other time to speak and ardently listened. In spite of their fierce approach, the two used respectful tones. Even when they attacked, they were polite in their tonality.

In the 90-minute slugfest, the two men slammed each other's past records with both accusing each other on issues they have participated in, including battles on immigration, foreign policy and racial tensions in America.

Covid-19 main focus:

While Biden made covid-19 the main focus of the debate, the Trump campaign complained that debate should have been focused on policy. This might have come as a setback to president Trump who wanted to tout his accomplishments in the Middle East, trade and Syria.

NBC News correspondent Kristen Welker, who was moderating the debate, asked how each candidate would lead the country out of the pandemic crisis.

Trump: “We’re fighting it and we’re fighting it hard… We’re rounding the corner. It’s going away..“I caught it. I learned a lot … We have to recover. We can’t close up our nation.”

Biden: “If you hear nothing else I say tonight hear this . Anyone who’s responsible for that many deaths should not remain as president of United States of America….This is the same fellow told you this is going to end by Easter last time. This is the same fellow who told you that, don’t worry, we’re going to end this by the summer. We’re about to go into a dark winter, a dark winter, and he has no clear plan.”

Trump: “I don’t know if we’re going to have a dark winter, and at all. We’re opening up our country. We’ve learned and studied and understand the disease.

Biden: “He says, we’re, you know, we’re learning to live with it. People are learning to die with it.”

Personal comparisons:

Coming to US President's favourite part, the two also launched personal attacks against each other. “I ran because of you,” Trump told Biden “I ran because of Barack Obama because I thought you did a poor job.”

Biden in return said that he hopes Trump does not focus on him as it will only help voters.

“Because what’s happening here, you know who I am. You know who he is. You know his character. You know my character,” Biden said. “You know our reputations for honor and telling the truth. I am anxious to have this race.”

Racial injustice:

Welker then focused the conversation on racial injustice, asking both candidates about how African American parents have to warn their kids about the laws. Biden apologized for his role in passing the 1994 crime bill and said racial discrimination persists in the criminal justice system.

Biden mentioned his daughter, a social worker, and said his children have never had to worry about being mistreated by police because they are white.

"I never had to tell my daughter if she's pulled over to put both hands on top of the wheel and don't reach for the glove box because someone may shoot you,” he said.

Trump, while answering, said that he is the least racist person in the room.