The debate stage clash between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump drew at least 57.5 million viewers, according to preliminary figures from ABC, the network that hosted the high-stakes match-up.
ABC’s early viewership estimate represents an improvement over the debate between President Joe Biden and Trump in late June, which attracted roughly 51.3 million people, according to the media analytics company Nielsen.
The preliminary data encompasses viewership on just seven networks: ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. ABC said it would release final numbers — including the estimated streaming audience — in the coming days.
ABC said roughly 17.8 million viewers were adults ages 25 to 54; another roughly 14.8 million viewers were adults ages 18 to 49.
The event was held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and was co-moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC News, who were praised by Democrats and assailed by Republicans for fact-checking Trump’s false claims.
The debate represented one of the biggest opportunities for the two candidates to present their cases to the country in the final stretch of an unusually abbreviated general election campaign.
Harris drew praise for her sharp attacks on Trump’s record on abortion and national security. Trump’s conspiracy-heavy performance prompted concern from his political allies as he attempts to win a second term in the White House.
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