Trump-Harris Debate Draws 16M Additional Viewers Compared to Biden Matchup
Both debates this year attracted a smaller audience compared to the initial Trump-Clinton matchup in 2016.
TroibNews 
During Tuesday's debate, Kamala Harris strategically pressed Donald Trump with responses aimed to provoke him, attracting a viewership of over 67 million people.
The audience size increased from the earlier debate in June between Trump and President Joe Biden, which had 51 million viewers, a pivotal event leading to Biden's withdrawal from the race.
Viewership for this year’s debates, however, fell short of the first 2020 presidential debate’s 73 million viewers and the record-breaking 84 million viewers for the 2016 debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton.
Final figures from ABC News, the host network, indicated that out of viewers across 17 networks, 19 million watched the debate on ABC alone.
This approximately 90-minute debate on Tuesday might be the sole opportunity for the public to see the candidates confront each other before the election in November.
From the start, it was evident that Harris aimed to provoke Trump, who responded defensively and was criticized for making numerous false statements. Republican supporters attributed Trump’s defensive performance to unfair treatment by the moderators, claiming it turned into a “three-on-one” debate.
At the debate's outset, both candidates were closely tied in national polls. Harris sought to increase her visibility, and though Trump frequently appeared defensive and agitated, many analysts believe his core support remains stable.
Following the debate, Harris's campaign indicated her readiness for another debate before the election. Despite initially proposing three debates, Trump, after the debate, expressed reluctance to participate further, claiming he "had a great night."
Fox News has proposed hosting another debate with Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier as moderators, though it remains unsettled whether either candidate will participate.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
The audience size increased from the earlier debate in June between Trump and President Joe Biden, which had 51 million viewers, a pivotal event leading to Biden's withdrawal from the race.
Viewership for this year’s debates, however, fell short of the first 2020 presidential debate’s 73 million viewers and the record-breaking 84 million viewers for the 2016 debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton.
Final figures from ABC News, the host network, indicated that out of viewers across 17 networks, 19 million watched the debate on ABC alone.
This approximately 90-minute debate on Tuesday might be the sole opportunity for the public to see the candidates confront each other before the election in November.
From the start, it was evident that Harris aimed to provoke Trump, who responded defensively and was criticized for making numerous false statements. Republican supporters attributed Trump’s defensive performance to unfair treatment by the moderators, claiming it turned into a “three-on-one” debate.
At the debate's outset, both candidates were closely tied in national polls. Harris sought to increase her visibility, and though Trump frequently appeared defensive and agitated, many analysts believe his core support remains stable.
Following the debate, Harris's campaign indicated her readiness for another debate before the election. Despite initially proposing three debates, Trump, after the debate, expressed reluctance to participate further, claiming he "had a great night."
Fox News has proposed hosting another debate with Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier as moderators, though it remains unsettled whether either candidate will participate.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
