The ratings for the first Republican debate of 2024 are likely to be much lower than those for the first Republican debate of 2016. That’s because in 2016, Donald Trump was the front-runner for the Republican nomination and his presence significantly increased viewership for the debate. In 2024, it is unknown who the Republican nominee will be, and the level of interest in the election may be much lower than in 2016. Additionally, debates have become less popular in general in recent years, and more people are likely to watch the debates online or on their own time, instead of watching them live.
