The first debate for the US election held on Tuesday at Hofstra University campus with Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton facing Republican candidate Donald Trump.

It was a feisty debate as Trump came all out with Clinton maintaining her composure as she analysed issues.

Here are key moments from both candidates.

On making Hillary Clinton happy 

“I want you to be very happy Secretary Clinton, it’s very important to me’ – Donald Trump.

On Trump’s economic plan

“And the kind of plan that Donald has put forth, would be trickled down economics all over again.

“In fact it would be the most extreme version, the biggest tax cuts for the top per cent of the people in this country, than we’ve ever had. I call it ‘Trumped up, trickle down'”. – Hillary Clinton.

On bringing jobs to the US

“We’ve to stop our jobs from being stolen from us, we’ve to stop our companies from fleeing from the U.S.”  – Donald Trump

On accusations

“I get a feeling that by the end of this debate I will be blamed for everything…” – Hillary Clinton

On Trump’s tax returns

“This is something I believe that the American people deserve to see, and I have no reason to believe that he’s ever going to release his tax returns because there’s something he’s hiding.” – Hillary Clinton.

On Clinton’s email server

“I will release my tax returns against my lawyers wishes when she [Hillary Clinton] releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted” – Donald Trump.

“I’m not going to make any excuses, it was a mistake, and I take responsibility for that.” – Hillary Clinton.

On policing

“Our inner cities, African Americans and Hispanics are living in hell because it’s so dangerous…You walk down the street you get shot. You have to have, ‘stop and frisk'” – Donald Trump.

“Who disagrees with keeping neighbours safe, but let’s also add, no one should disagree about the rights of young men who live in those neigbourhoods.” – Hillary Clinton.

On birther claims

“So we tried to put the whole racist, birther lie to bed. But it can’t be dismissed that easily.” – Hillary Clinton

“I got to watch some of your debates against Barack Obama in preparing for this. You treated him with terrible disrespect, and I watch the way you talk now about how lovely everything is, and how wonderful you are. It doesn’t work that way.” – Donald Trump.

On cyber security

“Well I think cyber security, cyber warfare will be one of the worst challenges facing the next president.” – Hillary Clinton.

“As far as the cyber, I agree to parts of what Secretary Clinton said.” – Donald Trump.

On DNC email hack

“I don’t think anybody knows it was Russia that broke into the DNC…Maybe it was. It could be Russia, it could also be China. It could also be lots of other people. It could also be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds, okay.” – Donald Trump.

On ability to be president

“He said if they taunted our sailors, I’d blow them out of the water and start another war. That is not good judgment. That is not the right temperament to be Commander-in-Chief.” – Hillary Clinton.

“She doesn’t have the look, she doesn’t have the stamina. I said she doesn’t have the stamina, and I don’t believe she does have the stamina. To be president of this country, you need tremendous stamina.” – Donald Trump.