Trump claims he is 'the least racist person in this room' to Biden and a Black moderator at the final presidential debate

• President Donald Trump expressed disappointment at Thursday night's debate that he had been criticized as hostile to nonwhite groups, especially Black Americans.
• The final debate of the 2020 election cycle was moderated by NBC News' Kristen Welker, who is Black.
• "I can't even see the audience because it's so dark," he said. "But I don't care who's in the audience: I am the least racist person in this room."
• His Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, responded forcefully on the issue of race, which he has spotlighted extensively throughout this campaign.
• "'Abraham Lincoln' here is one of the most racist presidents we've had in modern history," he said, adding that Trump had "a dog whistle as big as a foghorn."

President Donald Trump expressed disappointment during a heated exchange in his final debate with Joe Biden that he had been criticized as hostile to nonwhite groups, especially Black Americans.

The moderator Kristen Welker asked Trump at Thursday night's debate why he had spoken unfavorably about the Black Lives Matter movement and what he thought about claims his rhetoric had helped create an uneasy racial climate in the US.

After saying that his first impression of Black Lives Matter had been that it was hostile to the police, he said: "I think I have great relationships with all people. I am the least racist person in this room."

Welker, who is Black, again asked him about his rhetoric, to which he responded: "I don't know what to say. I got criminal-justice-reform done, prison reform, and opportunity zones. I took care of Black colleges and universities. I don't know what to say. They can say anything. I mean, they can say anything. It makes me sad."

"I can't even see the audience because it's so dark," he added. "But I don't care who's in the audience: I am the least racist person in this room."

Biden responded forcefully on the issue of race, which he has spotlighted extensively throughout this campaign.

"'Abraham Lincoln' here is one of the most racist presidents we've had in modern history," Biden said of Trump. "He pours fuel on every single racist fire. Every single one. Started off this campaign coming down the escalator saying he was going to get rid of those 'Mexican rapists.' He has banned Muslims because they're Muslims. He has moved around and made everything worse across the board."

He added: "This guy has a dog whistle as big as a foghorn."

Trump responded by slamming Biden for the 1994 crime bill, which the former vice president recently said was a "mistake."