He boasted later that he did not want to discuss them for Chelsea's sake

Dismissed his claim he did not mention her father's past out of respect

Chelsea Clinton has responded to Donald Trump's boasts that he held back from mentioning her father's infidelity during the first presidential debate, describing his proud claims as a 'distraction from what's at stake'.

The 36-year-old watched tensely with her father on Monday as her mother took on the Republican candidate in the first of three debates before November's election at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.

Afterwards Trump boasted that he had stopped short of mentioning Bill Clinton's indiscretions while on stage with Hillary, telling reporters he held back out of respect for their only daughter.

She dismissed the apparent gesture on Tuesday, telling Cosmopolitan it merely took away from the matters at hand.

'My reaction to that is just what my reaction has been kind of every Trump has gone after my mom or my family, which is that it’s a distraction from his inability to talk about what’s actually at stake in this election.'

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Chelsea Clinton dismissed Donald Trump's boasts that he did not mention her father Bill's indiscretions during the first presidential debate (she is seen above with her father at the event)

She is 'more concerned', she added, with the businessman's 'relentless attacks on whole swaths of our country'.

The mother-of-two continued: 'I don’t remember a time in my life when my parents and my family weren’t being attacked, and so it just sort of seems to be in that tradition, unfortunately.'

Chelsea was 18 when her father admitted to having an 'improper' relationship with White House worker Monica Lewinsky in 1998 when he was president.

He had previously denied ever sleeping with the woman in a televised address during which his wife was by his side.

Trump said nothing of the scandal during Monday's debate, instead focusing on his opponent's political record as former Secretary of State.

The Republican presidential candidate said proudly told reporters after the debate that he had shied away from the topic out of respect for his opponent's daughter

Chelsea (pictured above with her mother after the debate) said Trump's comments afterwards were a mere 'distraction' from 'what's at stake'

Later he boasted during an interview with CNN: ' I was very happy that I was able to hold back on the, you know, indiscretions with respect to Bill Clinton because I have a lot of respect for Chelsea Clinton and I just didn't want to say what I was going to say.'

He went on to tease that any remarks he held back from on Monday may emerge later.

'Maybe I'll tell you at the next debate,' he said.

Separately he told Fox News' Sean Hannity: 'Well I didn't want to say, her husband was in the room, along with her daughter, who I think is a very nice young lady.

Bill Clinton was president when he admitted to having an improper relationship with White House worker Monica Lewinsky in 1998. They are seen above together in 1995

Monday's debate was the first of three before the presidential election in November

'I didn't want to say what I was going to say, about what's been going on in their life.

'So I decided not to say it. I thought it would be very disrespectful to Chelsea and maybe to the family. But [Hillary] said very bad things about me.'

Clinton attacked Trump's style of business in a string of blows which included criticisms of racism and sexism.

She also recalled his alleged treatment of former Miss Universe, Alicia Machado, who he is accused of labelling 'Miss Piggy' after she gained weight in the wake of the pageant.

Monday's debate was the first of three between the presidential candidates before November's election.

The next will take place on October 9.