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

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

26% left · 59% center · 15% right of 385 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 102 stories.

Every storyoldest first

1. March 2024

   Mar 6Trump challenges Biden to debate 'anytime, anywhere'7 articles · 7 independent sources

   2 left, 2 center, 3 right

2. April 2024

   Apr 9– 15News organizations urge Biden and Trump to commit to presidential debates during the 2024 campaign39 articles · 31 independent sources

   5 left, 7 center, 6 right
3. Apr 26– 27President Joe Biden says he’s ‘happy to debate’ Donald Trump during interview with Howard Stern36 articles · 31 independent sources

   6 left, 9 center, 9 right

4. May 2024

   May 15– 16Trump says Biden ‘does not want’ to debate RFK Jr.: ‘Sharper and far more intelligent than Joe’13 articles · 10 independent sources

   4 left, 3 center, 3 right
5. May 15– 17How Biden and Trump kneecapped the media with their debate deal203 articles · 96 independent sources

   22 left, 33 center, 26 right
6. May 16– 17Vice President Kamala Harris accepts debate invitation19 articles · 15 independent sources

   1 left, 6 center, 7 right
7. May 18Here’s how Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could make the first debate stage under stringent Biden-Trump rules5 articles · 5 independent sources

   0 left, 2 center, 1 right
8. May 18Trump demands drug test for ‘high as a kite’ Biden before debates5 articles · 5 independent sources

   0 left, 0 center, 5 right
9. May 22Jonah Goldberg: Biden-Trump debates a lot less important than it was made out to be6 articles · 2 independent sources

   1 left, 1 center, 2 right
10. May 29RFK Jr. files complaint over CNN debate between Biden and Trump16 articles · 16 independent sources

    2 left, 4 center, 4 right

11. June 2024

    Jun 17– 24Biden-Trump debate offers rare chance for change in stubbornly tight presidential race61 articles · 31 independent sources

    7 left, 11 center, 7 right
12. Jun 19– 21Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fails to qualify for CNN's debate. It'll be a showdown between Biden and Trump43 articles · 33 independent sources

    8 left, 7 center, 4 right
13. Jun 20– 21How Biden and Trump are taking very different approaches to preparing for next week's debate18 articles · 15 independent sources

    2 left, 1 center, 3 right
14. Jun 20– 21Trump gets the final word at CNN debate after coin flip10 articles · 10 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 3 right
15. Jun 20How Biden and Trump are preparing for their first presidential debate8 articles · 4 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
16. Jun 23– 27Republicans want you to think Biden's on drugs at the debate because they've set expectations too low for him24 articles · 17 independent sources

    7 left, 2 center, 8 right
17. Jun 24Can Biden perform and can Trump be boring? Key questions ahead of high-stakes presidential debate - The Daily Reporter13 articles · 12 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 1 right
18. Jun 24– 28CNN Pushes Back on Fact-Checking Criticism From Debate: “Up to the Candidates”7 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 0 center, 2 right
19. Jun 24– 27How to watch the 1st Biden-Trump presidential debate164 articles · 65 independent sources

    16 left, 26 center, 14 right
20. Jun 24CNN host cuts off Trump spokeswoman mid-interview ahead of debate with Biden9 articles · 8 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 3 right
21. Jun 25– 29Despair in the air: For many voters, the Biden-Trump debate means a tough choice just got tougher17 articles · 12 independent sources

    2 left, 2 center, 1 right
22. Jun 25– 29Biden-Trump Debate Watched By Nearly 48 Million Viewers, CNN Says Highest-Rated Program In Its History30 articles · 19 independent sources

    7 left, 5 center, 5 right
23. Jun 26– 29Live Blog: Biden-Trump Debate372 articles · 118 independent sources

    33 left, 40 center, 23 right
24. Jun 26– 28Fact-checking Biden and Trump's claims at the first debate50 articles · 31 independent sources

    4 left, 13 center, 2 right
25. Jun 26– 28RFK Jr. calls Biden-Trump debate 'sad,' sees political opening5 articles · 5 independent sources

    3 left, 1 center, 1 right
26. Jun 26– 27Most Americans plan to watch the Biden-Trump debate, and many see high stakes, an AP-NORC poll finds31 articles · 20 independent sources

    2 left, 2 center, 2 right
27. Jun 27Jonah Goldberg: Unlike most presidential debates, this one actually matters5 articles · 1 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
28. Jun 27CNN is set to make millions off the Trump-Biden debate by bucking tradition6 articles · 5 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 4 right
29. Jun 28– Jul 3Democrats in Congress are torn between backing Biden for president and sounding the alarm54 articles · 33 independent sources

    7 left, 6 center, 11 right
30. Jun 28Biden's voice raises questions among viewers during debate12 articles · 7 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 4 right
31. Jun 28Biden Calls Trump A ‘Convicted Felon,’ ‘Sucker’ And ‘Loser’ In Tense Debate—And Trump Calls Biden A ‘Criminal’8 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 4 right
32. Jun 28Trump Falsely Cites Post-Birth Abortions—And Biden Opposes Late-Term Abortions—In Debate Spat6 articles · 5 independent sources

    2 left, 1 center, 2 right
33. Jun 28Jon Stewart, CNN Panelists React to Trump-Biden Debate: “This Cannot Be Real Life”5 articles · 5 independent sources
34. Jun 28Biden falsely claims no troops died during his tenure in Trump debate5 articles · 4 independent sources

    0 left, 0 center, 4 right
35. Jun 28Trump calls Biden ‘bad Palestinian’ in Gaza debate jab5 articles · 4 independent sources

    1 left, 0 center, 1 right
36. Jun 28Trump’s debate references to ‘Black jobs’ and ‘Hispanic jobs’ stir Democratic anger5 articles · 4 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 0 right

37. July 2024

    Jul 22– 23More signs Donald Trump doesn’t want to debate Kamala Harris5 articles · 4 independent sources

    4 left, 0 center, 0 right
38. Jul 23– 26Harris says she's ready to debate Trump and accuses him of 'backpedaling' from Sept. 10 faceoff68 articles · 40 independent sources

    6 left, 15 center, 6 right
39. Jul 23Trump says he is willing to debate Harris multiple times7 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 3 right
40. Jul 30Trump wavers on Harris debate, says he could ‘make a case' for skipping7 articles · 5 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 2 right
41. Jul 30– 31Donald Trump says he 'probably' will debate Kamala Harris but 'can also make a case for not'20 articles · 19 independent sources

    5 left, 4 center, 2 right

42. August 2024

    Aug 3– 9Game on: ABC News says Harris, Trump have agreed to presidential debate on Sept. 1087 articles · 59 independent sources

    13 left, 16 center, 14 right
43. Aug 3– 4Trump says he’ll debate Harris on Fox News or not at all after weeks of back-and-forth over ABC News event90 articles · 53 independent sources

    13 left, 15 center, 14 right
44. Aug 8Trump recommits to a Sept. 10 debate at news conference and lashes out at Harris6 articles · 6 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 1 right
45. Aug 14– 16Gov. Walz, Sen. J.D. Vance agree to Oct. 1 debate124 articles · 70 independent sources

    10 left, 18 center, 11 right
46. Aug 16ABC News’ Donald Trump-Kamala Harris Debate Will Take Place In Philadelphia At National Constitution Center7 articles · 7 independent sources

    2 left, 3 center, 0 right
47. Aug 16– 17Trump pulls in Tulsi Gabbard for debate prep11 articles · 11 independent sources

    4 left, 1 center, 4 right
48. Aug 20Donald Trump says Kamala Harris is refusing to do Fox News debate5 articles · 5 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 4 right
49. Aug 24– 27Donald Trump gives update on debates with Kamala Harris22 articles · 16 independent sources

    7 left, 5 center, 3 right
50. Aug 26Harris and Trump squabble over muted mics at upcoming debate12 articles · 11 independent sources

    3 left, 3 center, 2 right
51. Aug 26– 29ABC's rules for the Harris-Trump debate include muted mics when candidates aren't speaking40 articles · 27 independent sources

    4 left, 9 center, 8 right
52. Aug 26Trump campaign casts fresh doubt on September debate with Harris over microphone dispute7 articles · 6 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
53. Aug 27Trump says agreement reached for debate with Harris on Sept. 109 articles · 3 independent sources

    2 left, 2 center, 0 right

54. September 2024

    Sep 1– 5Election 2024 Latest: Trump and Harris focus on tax policy ahead of next week's debate8 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 4 center, 1 right
55. Sep 3– 10Presidential debate: What to expect as Harris, Trump face off for first time47 articles · 27 independent sources

    9 left, 11 center, 4 right
56. Sep 3– 9Why Harris has more at stake in Tuesday’s debate than Trump43 articles · 26 independent sources

    4 left, 9 center, 4 right
57. Sep 4– 9Harris' past debates: A prosecutor's style with narrative flair but risks in a matchup with Trump18 articles · 16 independent sources

    8 left, 2 center, 1 right
58. Sep 4– 5Harris accepts rules for Sept. 10 debate with Trump on ABC, including microphone muting45 articles · 29 independent sources

    6 left, 8 center, 5 right
59. Sep 4Laura Washington: Kamala Harris’ turn in 2019 debate signals a potent performance to come5 articles · 2 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 2 right
60. Sep 8Little debate that Pa. is key as Harris and Trump prep for Philly showdown6 articles · 5 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 1 right
61. Sep 8– 11CNN Flash Poll: Majority of debate watchers say Harris outperformed Trump onstage12 articles · 8 independent sources

    2 left, 2 center, 2 right
62. Sep 9– 10Harris vs. Trump: What time is tonight’s debate? How can I watch free? What are the rules?12 articles · 8 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 3 right
63. Sep 9– 11Watch live: Trump, Harris presidential debate in Philadelphia tonight174 articles · 79 independent sources

    21 left, 31 center, 9 right
64. Sep 9What the Trump-Clinton debate might tell us about Tuesday’s match with Harris5 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
65. Sep 10– 11A look at false and misleading claims made during Trump and Harris’ debate8 articles · 8 independent sources

    3 left, 2 center, 0 right
66. Sep 10– 11LIVE Blog: The Crucial Trump/Harris Debate That Could Decide the Election5 articles · 4 independent sources

    0 left, 0 center, 4 right
67. Sep 10– 11Harris tries to pin Project 2025 on Trump during first minutes of presidential debate9 articles · 9 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
68. Sep 11In The Spin Room: Donald Trump And Allies Insist He Won The ABC News Debate, But Grouse That It “Was Three Against One”5 articles · 4 independent sources

    0 left, 0 center, 3 right
69. Sep 11Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris for president after debate ends119 articles · 65 independent sources

    17 left, 12 center, 9 right
70. Sep 11Harris and Trump shake hands on debate stage27 articles · 4 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 1 right
71. Sep 11Trump makes rare spin room appearance after debate with Harris5 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 2 right
72. Sep 11Mark Z. Barabak: Trump was Trump in his debate with Kamala Harris5 articles · 1 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
73. Sep 11Trump refers to Kamala Harris’ 2020 viral ‘I’m speaking’ moment in presidential debate: ‘Does that sound familiar?’6 articles · 6 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 4 right
74. Sep 11Putin would ‘eat you for lunch' Harris tells Trump, in bitter clash over Russia and Ukraine5 articles · 4 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
75. Sep 11Trump does not commit to vetoing national abortion ban in debate with Harris19 articles · 6 independent sources

    1 left, 4 center, 1 right
76. Sep 11– 13Trump says he won’t debate Harris again477 articles · 123 independent sources

    34 left, 44 center, 25 right
77. Sep 11Trump repeats the false claim that Democrats support abortion 'after birth' in debate13 articles · 12 independent sources

    3 left, 0 center, 6 right
78. Sep 11Kamala Harris gives abortion rights advocates the debate answer they've longed for in Philadelphia5 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 0 right
79. Sep 11Kamala Harris' facial reactions and handshake with Donald Trump: Key debate moments in photos11 articles · 3 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 2 right
80. Sep 11Jon Stewart on Harris’s debate performance: ‘She crushed that’5 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 0 center, 0 right
81. Sep 11– 12The Trump-Harris Debate Had Over 67 Million Viewers: Nielsen21 articles · 20 independent sources

    4 left, 6 center, 3 right
82. Sep 11ABC News Presidential Debate opens with tense disputes between Trump and Harris8 articles · 1 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
83. Sep 11Kamala Harris, gun owner, talks firearms at debate24 articles · 16 independent sources

    1 left, 4 center, 3 right
84. Sep 11Debate takeaways: A Taylor Swift endorsement and tense clashes on abortion, race and more10 articles · 1 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
85. Sep 11Donald Trump faces his own debate fallout just months after benefiting from Joe Biden’s7 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 0 right
86. Sep 12– 13Harris and Trump are jockeying for battleground states after their debate faceoff33 articles · 23 independent sources

    1 left, 7 center, 3 right
87. Sep 12'No third debate,' Trump says on Truth Social5 articles · 4 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
88. Sep 21– 22Kamala Harris accepts CNN debate challenge, calls out Trump for October rematch63 articles · 39 independent sources

    5 left, 14 center, 8 right
89. Sep 23DNC calls Trump ‘chicken’ for not accepting second debate in billboard campaign5 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 3 right
90. Sep 23– 25What polls show about Tim Walz and JD Vance before Tuesday's VP debate16 articles · 11 independent sources

    1 left, 4 center, 4 right
91. Sep 23– 30What to watch as JD Vance and Tim Walz meet for a vice presidential debate103 articles · 50 independent sources

    9 left, 18 center, 6 right
92. Sep 26– 27When are JD Vance and Tim Walz debating? What to know about the vice presidential debate7 articles · 3 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
93. Sep 28Walz has experience on a debate stage pinning down an abortion opponent's shifting positions - The Daily Reporter7 articles · 7 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 2 right
94. Sep 29– Oct 3Top Moments From the Vance-Walz VP Debate455 articles · 131 independent sources

    34 left, 50 center, 29 right
95. Sep 30– Oct 2Trump says no to another debate with Kamala Harris7 articles · 5 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 2 right
96. Sep 30Rep. Tom Emmer says Vance will hold Walz 'accountable' during VP debate7 articles · 2 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 0 right

97. October 2024

    Oct 1– 2Vice presidential debate fact check: Claims made by Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance21 articles · 13 independent sources

    4 left, 6 center, 1 right
98. Oct 2Who won the VP debate? Here's what polls say20 articles · 4 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 2 right
99. Oct 2At VP debate, JD Vance refuses to say Trump lost in 2020, downplays events of Jan. 610 articles · 7 independent sources

    3 left, 2 center, 2 right
100. Oct 2Walz says he’s become ‘friends with school shooters’ in VP debate gaffe: ‘Worst line in any 2024 debate’13 articles · 9 independent sources

     2 left, 0 center, 7 right
101. Oct 2JD Vance reminds CBS moderators of debate rules after they try to fact-check him7 articles · 4 independent sources

     1 left, 1 center, 2 right
102. Oct 2Top takeaways from the vice presidential debate between Vance, Walz8 articles · 2 independent sources

     1 left, 2 center, 0 right