Even though Thursday's Fox News-hosted Republican presidential debate was the second-lowest rated GOP debate of the season, it still drew a bigger audience than Donald Trump did. The debate, which Trump boycotted after claiming that moderator Megyn Kelly was biased, drew 12.5 million viewers. Trump's counter-programmed Iowa event raising money for veterans was watched by roughly 2.7 million viewers.
However, the question remains of just how much bigger Thursday's debate audience would have been had Trump decided to participate. The first time the GOP frontrunner faced off against Kelly in the opening debate in August, Fox News drew a record 24 million viewers.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.