ABC News US presidential debate attracted 67.1 million TV viewers

Harris-Trump presidential debate hosted by ABC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

FILE PHOTO: Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a presidential debate hosted by ABC as Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump listens, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., September 10, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

Source: REUTERS

By Helen Coster

The U.S. presidential debate between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump attracted 67.1 million television viewers, according to Nielsen data released on Wednesday.

Tuesday night's event was the first time the candidates in the Nov. 5 presidential election had met face to face.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

RSF index reveals that press freedom gaps widened globally in 2025

The viewing figure tops the roughly 51 million people who watched Trump debate then-candidate President Joe Biden in June.

It does not capture the full extent of online viewing, which has grown in popularity as traditional TV audiences decline.

The record TV audience for a presidential debate occurred in 2016, when 84 million people tuned in to watch Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton debate Trump.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters