The funniest jokes from Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton’s speeches at last night’s Al Smith dinner

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Less than 24 hours after their frosty final debate, the US' two Presidential candidates were at each other’s throats once again – but this time under the guise of comedy.

They were taking part in the annual Al Smith dinner, a white tie charity event organised by New York’s Catholic elite where every four years the presidential candidates make an appearance.

With only NYC’s Archbishop, Timothy M Dolan, between them, the pair jousted with jokes – some of which went down better with the high-class crowd than others.

Here are the best of them:

On Donald’s dwindling support in the GOP

Hillary began with some self-deprecating humour:

This is such a special event that I took a break from my rigorous nap schedule to be here.

But then she took it up a gear, poking fun at the speed with which Republicans have been condemning Trump, after comments he made about women came to light.

But every year this dinner brings together a sensible committed mainstream Republicans, or as we now like to call them, Hillary supporters.

Close to the bone

Trump stuck to his guns, and attempted to make his usual jibes at Hillary, but in joke form. And you can bet those leaked e-mails were going to come up.

In reference to comments in some of the e-mails which discussed Roman Catholic Conservatism, Donald was extreme:

Here she is tonight in public pretending not to hate Catholics. 

That was met with boos. Hillary didn’t even crack a smile.

On Trump’s infamous Twitter feed

Trump is known for his distinct tweeting style. It’s aggressive, hyperbolic and full of sweeping statements, much like the man himself.

Hillary capitalised on this, while subtly pitching herself as the first woman to hold office.

We'll either have the first female President or the first President who started a Twitter war with Cher.

Here's the tweet she was referring to:

Trump has also engaged in Twitter feuds with Rosie O’Donnell, Arianna Huffington and Russell Brand, among many, many others.

Drug tests

Last week, Trump said the candidates should have to take a drug test before their next debate, and accused Clinton of being “pumped up”.

Last night Hillary hit back: 

I am so flattered Donald thought I was using some sort of performance enhancing drug.

Well actually, I did. It’s called preparation.

Low blows

At one point, Donald’s jokes resembled a playground insult.

Hillary is so corrupt that she got kicked off the Watergate commission.

That was met with boos in the auditorium. Ouch.

Funniest joke of the night

The prize for the best gag of the evening, perhaps surprisingly, goes to Trump, who joked about one of his own campaign’s most memorable gaffes.

The media is even more biased this year than ever before. You want the proof? Michelle Obama gives a speech and everyone loves it. It’s fantastic. They think she’s absolutely great. My wife Melania gives the exact same speech and people get on her case.

Cheers rang out across the room even before the end of that one.

“I’m in trouble when I go home tonight, she didn’t know about that one,” Trump said. Somehow, we think he probably wasn’t.