Republican debate draws 12.8 million viewers, topping last non-Trump debate from early 2016

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 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.

Trump 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%).