Biden vs. Trump 2024 Presidential Debate: Millions Tune In

President Biden and former President Trump faced off Thursday in the first 2024 presidential debate on CNN, arguing about the Russo-Ukrainian War, the border, and even their golf games.

TV Ratings:

• 47.9 million viewers tuned in for the 90-minute debate, according to CNN.
• It aired across CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español, and CNN Max, and was streamed online without a cable login.
• TV Ratings by Channel:
  • CNN: 8.7 million viewers, including 3 million in the 25-54 age group.
  • Fox News: 8.8 million viewers
  • ABC News: 8.7 million viewers
  • MSNBC: 3.968 million viewers
  • NBCUniversal News Group (linear): 9.934 million viewers
• The debate also broke records for CNN's Max streaming service, and garnered over 30 million views across CNN digital and YouTube.
• "[The debate was] CNN’s biggest debate ever and tied with our biggest live stream event ever with 2.3 million concurrent live views at 9:47 p.m.," said CNN.

Comparison to Past Debates:

The 2020 Biden-Trump debate drew 73.1 million viewers, per Nielsen Media. This year's debate reflects a 35% drop in viewers, though it still ranks as the third-highest viewed debate, behind only the 1980 Carter-Reagan debate (80.6 million) and the 2016 Clinton-Trump debate (84 million).

Upcoming Debates:

The second presidential debate is set for Sept. 10 on ABC, with a VP debate tentatively scheduled for July 23 or August 13 on CBS News. Trump has not chosen a running mate, with possible frontrunners including ND Gov. Doug Burgum and Sens. J.D. Vance, Tim Scott, and Marco Rubio.