The first Republican debate of the 2024 election cycle drew 12.8 million viewers to Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network combined Wednesday night — more than the last GOP forum held without Donald Trump.
The two-hour debate, moderated by Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier and “The Story” host Martha MacCallum, was the highest-rated non-sports cable telecast so far this year, beating the Paramount drama “Yellowstone,” drawing a bigger audience than ABC, CBS, and NBC combined, and outrating every other cable offering, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The program also outdrew 70% of all presidential primary debates from the 2016 and 2020 cycles and attracted 2.8 million people in the coveted 25-54 age demographic.
By comparison, just 12.5 million tuned in to a Fox News-hosted debate that was boycotted by Trump, now 77, in January 2016.
The first Republican primary debate drew more viewers than a previous event former President Donald Trump skipped in 2016. AP
Less than half as many viewed the event as did when Trump entered the presidential nominating contest in 2015. AP
The former president’s first GOP debate appearance in August 2015, which was also hosted by Fox News, brought 24 million viewers. PA Wire/PA Images
Just 12.5 million tuned into the last debate that Trump skipped in January 2016, the Associated Press reported. APThe former president’s first-ever GOP debate appearance in August 2015, which was also hosted by Fox News, brought in 24 million viewers.
Trump sat out the first verbal sparring match of the 2024 cycle, instead opting to pre-record an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson for his show on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The former president announced his decision to skip the debate on Sunday night, citing his “legendary” polling lead, after resisting entreaties from Fox executives and on-air hosts to attend.
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) are in a distant third, fifth and sixth place in the national polls. AP
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie share a laugh onstage. AP
The former president announced his decision to miss the debate on Sunday, citing his “legendary” polling lead, even after entreaties from Fox executives and on-air hosts to attend. APTrump leads the GOP primary field with 55.4% support, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.
He is followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (14.3%), entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (7.2%), former Vice President Mike Pence (4%), former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (3.2%), South Carolina GOP Sen. Tim Scott (3.1%), former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (3%), former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (0.8%) and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (0.6%).
