Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in First US presidential debate The two US presidential candidates have clashed over jobs, race and the Iraq War in their first presidential debate. The heated exchanges turned personal as Republican Donald Trump accused his rival Hillary Clinton of not having the right temperament to be president. Meanwhile, Mrs Clinton baited Mr Trump by pointing out that he refused to release his tax returns. Hours before the programme, polls suggested the candidates were locked in a dead heat, adding to the apparent tension between the rivals on stage throughout the debate. The debate is the first of three between the two candidates, as America goes to the polls on November 8. BBC