CNN Humiliated After Losing To Fox In TV Ratings For Network’s Own Debate

It was a night of high stakes and higher expectations as CNN hosted a pivotal presidential debate, pitting incumbent Joe Biden against his Republican rival, Donald Trump. The event was expected to draw massive viewership, spotlighting the crucial differences between the candidates as the November U.S. election approaches.

However, while the debate itself was the center of attention, another storyline emerged from the evening: the ratings battle between major news networks.

Despite its role as the host network, CNN was narrowly outpaced by Fox News in television viewership. Nielsen Fast National data revealed that Fox News drew 8.8 million viewers, slightly edging out CNN’s 8.7 million, even when considering CNN Español and HLN, which brought CNN’s total to 9.04 million. MSNBC trailed with 3.97 million viewers.

👀 FOX NEWS drew 8.8 MILLION people, whereas CNN drew 8.7 million ….

*If you include CNN Espanol & HLN, CNN combined networks drew 9.04 million…

*MSNBC drew 3.97 million… https://t.co/yy61eFHUMo

— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) June 28, 2024

(VOTE NOW: Did TRUMP or BIDEN Win The First Debate?)

The ratings upset comes amid large concerns about Joe Biden’s performance during the debate. Critics and even fellow Democrats expressed their worries following his appearance, which was marked by verbal stumbles and occasionally meandering responses. Thursday night intensified doubts about the 81-year-old incumbent’s fitness to serve another four-year term, stoking internal party debates about potential replacements.

Right after the debate, CNN’s John King reported the sense of panic among senior Democrats over Biden’s performance. Supporters of the president were optimistic that he would present a clear and succinct message on immigration, aiming to counteract Trump’s critiques on this highly contentious issue. However, he did not meet expectations.

“It involves party strategists, involves elected officials, it involves fundraisers, and they’re having conversations about the president’s performance, which they think was dismal, which they think will hurt other people down the party in the ticket, and having conversations about what they should do about it,” John King said right after the debate.

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“Some of those conversations include whether we should go to the White House and ask the president to step aside,” King continued. The discussion within the party suggests that some members believe it might be necessary for prominent Democrats to publicly call for Biden to reconsider his campaign.

Although Biden regained some composure later in the debate, his closing statements did little to calm the fears of party leaders. The growing doubts cast a long shadow over the campaign, with implications that could reshape the Democratic strategy moving forward with only a few months to go.

“[Biden] stuck to his official position. I think he could’ve expressed it more strongly,” a source close to the White House told CNN. “He needs to remind the American public of his record, both on the border and on helping long-term undocumented immigrants. He hasn’t done that yet,” another source added, describing a moment when Biden unexpectedly brought up immigration while discussing abortion as “awkward and not helpful.”

When questioned about his age, 78-year-old Donald Trump boasted about his cognitive abilities and his recent achievements in golf. “I took two cognitive tests. I aced them, both of them,” Trump said. “I’m in very good health. I just won two club championships.”

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