Biden-Trump debates are unpredictable. But how many people actually watch?

Sarah Gleason, USA TODAY

Updated June 26, 2024 at 3:25 p.m.·1 min read

Americans are only two sleeps away from the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle, which CNN will host on Thursday, June 27 at 9 p.m. ET.

The debates have a history of garnering an audience in person and an even larger one on screen. There will be no live audience at the CNN debate, instead Donald Trump and Joe Biden will duel it out with CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash moderating in the network's Atlanta studio.

For voters looking to get in on the action from home, the anticipated debate will air live on CNN and live streamed on several networks, including USA TODAY's YouTube channel.

2020: One of the most-watched debates

It's been a while since Trump and Biden have debated each other, but their September 2020 debate was among the most watched debates ever. The challenge of the debates, known for its chaos and constant interruptions, garnered over 73 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media.

Look back: 'Nasty woman' and 'bad hombres' Remember these viral moments from past debates?

The infamous showdown between the presidential candidates trailed just behind in viewership to the 80.6 million who watched Jimmy Carter debate Ronald Reagan in 1980, and the 84 million who watched Hillary Clinton debate Trump in 2016, according to Nielsen Media.

When are the upcoming presidential debates?

The Trump and Biden campaigns have agreed to two debates. CNN will host the first on June 27, and the second will air on ABC on Sept. 10. Although Trump has not announced a vice-presidential running mate yet, a debate is scheduled for current VP Kamala Harris and Trump's choice later in the summer.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: How many people watched the 2020 Trump-Biden debate?

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2020: One of the most-watched debates

When are the upcoming presidential debates?

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