Donald Trump has shocked viewers of the third and final US presidential debate by describing abortions as “ripping the baby from the womb”.

Mr Trump and Hillary Clinton battled it out on Thursday in front of history’s first Fox News moderator, Chris Wallace.

A host of issues were raised, including alleged corruption at the Clinton Foundation, America’s supposedly “rigged” media — and somehow, even Trump’s claim that his TV show The Apprentice should have won an Emmy Award.

Ms Clinton channeled an angelic look in all white. Photo: Getty

As the campaign winds up, Ms Clinton is believed to maintain her lead over Mr Trump, with the New York Times claiming the Democratic candidate has a 92 per cent chance of winning the election.

‘Rip the baby out’

The first question of the debate related to the Supreme Court, but turned into an argument about abortion.

Mr Trump chastised Ms Clinton for voting against a ban on late-term abortion, choosing to describe the operation in violent terms.

“If you go with what Hillary is saying you can … take the baby in the ninth month and rip the baby from the womb of the mother,” he said.

Ms Clinton said it was “unfortunate” the Republican candidate was resorting to “scare rhetoric” when discussing the issue.

For the 1st time the majority of the #American people were forced to hear a description of partial birth abortion. Thank you Donald #Trump

— Lauren Cooley (@laurenacooley) October 20, 2016

Someone might want to tell #DonaldTrump that an "abortion" on the last day of a pregnancy is called a delivery. #debate

— Allen Clifton (@Allen_Clifton) October 20, 2016

"You can rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month." Donald Trump on abortion = despicable #debate

— Claire Phipps (@Claire_Phipps) October 20, 2016

‘We have bad hombres in this country’

A question on border security fired up both candidates, with Ms Clinton asked to convince the audience she had a tangible stance on the issue.

Conversely, Mr Trump’s stance has been a focal point of his campaign, including a much-publicised promise to build a wall on the Mexican border – paid for by Mexico.

Mr Trump claimed to have had a very successful meeting with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, saying the US would be enjoying “much better trade deals” with the nation.

Next, Mr Trump summarised his border-security policy in one sentence: “We have bad hombres in this country that need to get out.”

The official Trump campaign Twitter account stood by the quote, fashioning a graphic with lightning speed, while in other corners of the internet, a meme was born.

TRUE #BigLeagueTruth #Debates pic.twitter.com/XtFvtC93Qe

— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) October 20, 2016

I think the bad hombres were the clear winners. #debatenight

— Larry Wilmore (@larrywilmore) October 20, 2016

https://twitter.com/jadmanb/status/788934528794583040

‘I didn’t even apologise to my wife’

Inevitably, moderator Chris Wallace asked both candidates about the respective sexual assault allegations plaguing their campaigns.

Prior to the second debate, Mr Trump held a surprise press conference with three women claiming Ms Clinton’s husband Bill Clinton had sexually assaulted to them.

Following that debate, nine separate women accused Mr Trump of the same crime.

Melania Trump did not receive an apology from Mr Trump over the allegations. Photo: Getty

The Republican candidate flatly denied the allegations, saying they hadn’t even warranted an apology to his wife, Melania Trump.

“I didn’t even apologise to my wife who is sitting right here because I didn’t do anything. I didn’t know any of these women,” he said.

Ms Clinton, on the other hand, dodged the question about her husband’s alleged crimes, instead choosing to focus on Mr Trump’s problems with women.

“Donald thinks belittling women makes him bigger,” she said. 

“He goes after their dignity, their self worth, and I don’t think there is a woman anywhere who doesn’t know what that feels like.”

Americans go the polls on November 8.