The aftermath of the election has hit hard for many Leftist news outlets. They’re currently wallowing in misery over Trump’s victory.
And MSNBC headquarters are on fire thanks to this latest post-election report.
Far-Left Viewers Abandon MSNBC’s Morning Joe After Hosts Visit Trump at Mar-a-Lago
MSNBC’s Morning Joe has seen a steep decline in viewership since co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski disclosed on Monday that they traveled to Mar-a-Lago to meet with President-elect Donald Trump. The controversial visit and its fallout have triggered backlash from across the political spectrum, as well as a significant ratings dip.
The revelation, shared live on air, surprised many of the show’s regular viewers. Scarborough and Brzezinski explained they went to Trump’s Palm Beach estate to “restart communications” with him. However, their audience appeared unconvinced. According to Nielsen data reported by Mediaite, viewers began tuning out shortly after the announcement.
Between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. Eastern, Morning Joe’s viewership dropped 17%, from 839,000 to 694,000. Among the highly valued 25-54 age demographic, the decline was even steeper, plunging 38%, from 113,000 to 70,000 viewers. Ratings improved slightly during the 8 a.m. hour, climbing to 775,000, but dipped again to 770,000 by 9 a.m.
Backlash From All Sides
The fallout extended far beyond viewer metrics. Liberals and conservatives alike criticized the co-hosts, accusing them of hypocrisy. The pair, who have been vocal Trump critics, were denounced for what some perceived as opportunism.
One anonymous former Morning Joe guest told The New York Post that Scarborough “gives opportunism a bad name,” calling him a “hollow man” driven solely by a desire for success and status.
Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show, mocked the duo for meeting with Trump after previously likening him to a threat to democracy. Similarly, former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley accused the co-hosts of attempting to curry favor with Trump to boost their ratings.
Criticism also came from MSNBC’s competitors. Ana Navarro and Sunny Hostin of ABC’s The View questioned the journalistic ethics of the meeting, with Hostin remarking that it wasn’t necessary to “kiss his ring” to cover him accurately.
MSNBC insiders reportedly shared similar sentiments. Staffers anonymously called the meeting an act of “cowardice” and labeled it “disgusting but frankly unsurprising.”
Despite the backlash, Scarborough defended their decision, stating that they’re “here to report on him and to hopefully provide you insights that are going to better equip all of us in understanding these deeply unsettling times.”
Broader Ratings Challenges for MSNBC
The ratings trouble for Morning Joe mirrors a larger trend at MSNBC, which has struggled since Trump’s election victory. The network’s primetime viewership has dropped 54%, with its daily average falling to 736,000 viewers—a drop from 1.1 million the previous month.
This marks a sharp contrast from Election Day, when MSNBC’s coverage, anchored by Rachel Maddow, drew an average of 6 million viewers, outperforming CNN’s 5.1 million, according to Nielsen.
Changes on the Horizon
The controversy surrounding Morning Joe coincides with major shifts at MSNBC’s parent company, Comcast. On Wednesday, Comcast announced plans to spin off NBCUniversal’s cable channels, including MSNBC, CNBC, and others, as part of a reorganization influenced by the ascent of digital streaming.
The move will separate some entertainment and news properties while retaining key assets like the Peacock streaming service, theme parks, and film studios. Comcast shares rose 1.7% in premarket trading following the announcement.
As MSNBC grapples with internal backlash, external criticism, and declining ratings, Morning Joe faces tough questions about how to improve their ratings as they try to reengage communications with Donald Trump after falsely claiming he’s a threat to democracy.
Stay tuned to Prudent Politics.
