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Gone quiet · last update Oct 2, 2024 / Donald Trump

The 2024 presidential debates, from Biden vs. Trump to Harris vs. Trump

Overview · reviewed October 28, 2026

The 2024 campaign had three general election debates. President Joe Biden's halting performance against Donald Trump on CNN on June 27 left most watchers in a CNN poll saying Trump had done better, and Biden left the race weeks later;[1][2] Vice President Kamala Harris then met Trump on ABC on September 10, a debate most watchers told a CNN poll she won;[3] and their running mates, Tim Walz and JD Vance, debated on CBS on October 1.[4][5] Trump declined a second debate with Harris, saying there would be "no third debate."[6]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

Trump declined a second debate with Harris, saying there would be "no third debate."[6]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

Mar 2024: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2024: average weekly share 5% (left 1%, center 2%, right 2%), from 5 of 5 weeksMay 2024: average weekly share 13% (left 4%, center 4%, right 5%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2024: average weekly share 21% (left 7%, center 8%, right 6%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2024: average weekly share 11% (left 3%, center 4%, right 3%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2024: average weekly share 23% (left 6%, center 9%, right 7%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2024: average weekly share 37% (left 11%, center 15%, right 10%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 14 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (21 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Sep 30, 2024425143136 of 22261%
Sep 23, 20249161136 of 21417%
Sep 16, 2024619833 of 20916%
Sep 9, 2024516040151 of 23066%
Sep 2, 202417221150 of 21224%
Aug 26, 202416221250 of 20425%
Aug 19, 20240246 of 2093%
Aug 12, 202419292674 of 21734%
Aug 5, 202417231858 of 20229%
Jul 29, 202417221756 of 22825%
Jul 22, 202414191043 of 23418%
Jul 1, 202457921 of 21310%
Jun 24, 2024475744148 of 25059%
Jun 17, 202419231557 of 22226%
May 27, 202444715 of 2476%
May 20, 20241124 of 2262%
May 13, 202428333394 of 21644%
Apr 22, 20248121131 of 22314%
Apr 15, 20242507 of 2473%
Apr 8, 202467922 of 2648%
Mar 4, 20241236 of 2542%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Oct 1, 2024 · first reported · Headline from KCEN Waco

    Top takeaways from the vice presidential debate between Vance, Walz

Background

Donald Trump spent the spring of 2024 demanding debates with President Joe Biden "anytime, anywhere," and earlier than the debate commission had planned,[7] and Biden told the radio host Howard Stern he was "happy to debate" him.[8] Both accepted CNN's invitation to debate on June 27 in its Atlanta studio,[9] without an audience and with microphones muted when the other candidate spoke.[10][11] The independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fell short of CNN's polling and ballot thresholds and was left off the stage.[12]

Read the full background (4 more paragraphs)

From the start of the debate, viewers asked online what was wrong with Biden's voice.[13] Most debate watchers told a CNN poll that Trump had outperformed him,[1] though CNN's fact-checkers found that Trump made more than 30 false claims, far more than Biden.[14] Trump's warning that immigrants were taking "Black jobs" and "Hispanic jobs" drew outrage from Democrats and Black leaders.[15] The weeks of pressure on Biden that followed are told in the arc on his withdrawal.

After Biden left the race, Fox News proposed a Trump-Harris debate for September 17.[2] Trump said he would skip the ABC debate scheduled for September 10 and face Harris on Fox instead,[16] then agreed to the ABC date.[17] It was held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis.[18] The campaigns fought over whether microphones would be muted; ABC's rules muted them, and Trump said he accepted.[19][20]

In Philadelphia, Harris said Russian President Vladimir Putin would "eat you for lunch" if Trump returned to the White House,[21] and Trump said he would not sign a federal abortion ban.[22] At one point Trump told her "I'm talking now," echoing her line from her 2020 debate with Mike Pence.[23] Fact-checkers found old and new false and misleading claims.[24] About 67.1 million people watched, far more than the 51 million who saw the June debate.[25] Minutes afterward, Taylor Swift endorsed Harris.[26] Two days later Trump ruled out another debate,[6] although Harris accepted a CNN invitation for October 23.[27]

Walz and Vance met once, on October 1 in a CBS News debate.[4] They sparred over the Middle East, climate change and immigration and aimed most of their attacks at the top of the tickets.[5] Vance dodged when asked whether Trump had lost the 2020 election,[28] and House Speaker Mike Johnson accused the CBS moderators of bias for fact-checking him.[29] The rest of the race is followed in the arc on the 2024 general election.

Supporting stories (29)
  1. Biden-Trump Debate Watched By Nearly 48 Million Viewers, CNN Says Highest-Rated Program In Its History
  2. Harris says she's ready to debate Trump and accuses him of 'backpedaling' from Sept. 10 faceoff
  3. CNN Flash Poll: Majority of debate watchers say Harris outperformed Trump onstage
  4. Gov. Walz, Sen. J.D. Vance agree to Oct. 1 debate
  5. Top takeaways from the vice presidential debate between Vance, Walz
  6. Trump says he won’t debate Harris again
  7. News organizations urge Biden and Trump to commit to presidential debates during the 2024 campaign
  8. President Joe Biden says he’s ‘happy to debate’ Donald Trump during interview with Howard Stern
  9. How Biden and Trump kneecapped the media with their debate deal
  10. How to watch the 1st Biden-Trump presidential debate
  11. CNN is set to make millions off the Trump-Biden debate by bucking tradition
  12. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fails to qualify for CNN's debate. It'll be a showdown between Biden and Trump
  13. Biden's voice raises questions among viewers during debate
  14. Fact-checking Biden and Trump's claims at the first debate
  15. Trump’s debate references to ‘Black jobs’ and ‘Hispanic jobs’ stir Democratic anger
  16. Trump says he’ll debate Harris on Fox News or not at all after weeks of back-and-forth over ABC News event
  17. Game on: ABC News says Harris, Trump have agreed to presidential debate on Sept. 10
  18. ABC News’ Donald Trump-Kamala Harris Debate Will Take Place In Philadelphia At National Constitution Center
  19. ABC's rules for the Harris-Trump debate include muted mics when candidates aren't speaking
  20. Trump says agreement reached for debate with Harris on Sept. 10
  21. Putin would ‘eat you for lunch' Harris tells Trump, in bitter clash over Russia and Ukraine
  22. Trump does not commit to vetoing national abortion ban in debate with Harris
  23. Trump refers to Kamala Harris’ 2020 viral ‘I’m speaking’ moment in presidential debate: ‘Does that sound familiar?’
  24. A look at false and misleading claims made during Trump and Harris’ debate
  25. The Trump-Harris Debate Had Over 67 Million Viewers: Nielsen
  26. Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris for president after debate ends
  27. Kamala Harris accepts CNN debate challenge, calls out Trump for October rematch
  28. At VP debate, JD Vance refuses to say Trump lost in 2020, downplays events of Jan. 6
  29. JD Vance reminds CBS moderators of debate rules after they try to fact-check him

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 102 recorded updates

October 2024

  1. Top takeaways from the vice presidential debate between Vance, WalzHeadline from KCEN Waco · 2 outlets
  2. JD Vance reminds CBS moderators of debate rules after they try to fact-check himHeadline from Fox News · 4 outlets
  3. Walz says he’s become ‘friends with school shooters’ in VP debate gaffe: ‘Worst line in any 2024 debate’Headline from New York Post · 9 outlets
  4. At VP debate, JD Vance refuses to say Trump lost in 2020, downplays events of Jan. 6Headline from ABC 30 Fresno · 7 outlets
  5. Who won the VP debate? Here's what polls sayHeadline from Fox7 Austin · 4 outlets

September 2024

  1. Vice presidential debate fact check: Claims made by Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD VanceHeadline from ABC 7 Los Angeles · 13 outlets
  2. Rep. Tom Emmer says Vance will hold Walz 'accountable' during VP debateHeadline from 6ABC Philadelphia · 2 outlets
  3. Trump says no to another debate with Kamala HarrisHeadline from Washington Times · 5 outlets
  4. Top Moments From the Vance-Walz VP DebateHeadline from Time · 131 outlets
  5. Walz has experience on a debate stage pinning down an abortion opponent's shifting positions - The Daily ReporterHeadline from Green Field Reporter · 7 outlets
  6. When are JD Vance and Tim Walz debating? What to know about the vice presidential debateHeadline from NBC 6 South Florida · 3 outlets
  7. What to watch as JD Vance and Tim Walz meet for a vice presidential debateHeadline from ABC 7 Los Angeles · 50 outlets
  8. What polls show about Tim Walz and JD Vance before Tuesday's VP debateHeadline from The Republic · 11 outlets
  9. Democrats to dub Trump a 'chicken' to pressure him to debate HarrisHeadline from NBC News · 5 outlets
  10. Kamala Harris accepts CNN debate challenge, calls out Trump for October rematchHeadline from Foxla · 39 outlets
  11. 'No third debate,' Trump says on Truth SocialHeadline from KTVU San Francisco · 4 outlets
  12. Harris and Trump are jockeying for battleground states after their debate faceoffHeadline from Local News 8 · 23 outlets
  13. Donald Trump faces his own debate fallout just months after benefiting from Joe Biden’sHeadline from The Boston Globe · 7 outlets
  14. Debate takeaways: A Taylor Swift endorsement and tense clashes on abortion, race and moreHeadline from The Pantagraph · 1 outlet
  15. Kamala Harris, gun owner, talks firearms at debateHeadline from KVOA Tucson · 16 outlets
  16. ABC News Presidential Debate opens with tense disputes between Trump and HarrisHeadline from Quad-City Times · 1 outlet
  17. The Trump-Harris Debate Had Over 67 Million Viewers: NielsenHeadline from Time · 20 outlets
  18. Jon Stewart on Harris’s debate performance: ‘She crushed that’Headline from The Guardian · 5 outlets
  19. Kamala Harris' facial reactions and handshake with Donald Trump: Key debate moments in photosHeadline from Fox5 Atlanta · 3 outlets
  20. Kamala Harris gives abortion rights advocates the debate answer they've longed for in PhiladelphiaHeadline from Bowling Green Daily News · 5 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →