MSNBC’s audience has taken a major hit since Election Day. Primetime viewership dropped by 54%, from 1.1 million viewers in October to just 736,000 after Trump’s victory. Fox News, on the other hand, saw a 61% increase during the same period.
MSNBC’s primetime hours were especially hard-hit. Shows like "Alex Wagner Tonight" and "All in with Chris Hayes" averaged just 808,000 viewers, down 54%. The drop from the year-to-date totals is even worse. Meanwhile, Fox News saw a 58% increase.
The network also lost 16% of its total day viewers and a staggering 57% of its audience among adults 25-54, a key demographic. "Alex Wagner Tonight," "Andrea Mitchell Reports," and others saw their smallest audiences of the year last Friday.
"Alex Wagner Tonight" had its lowest-ever audience since it debuted in 2022. "All in with Chris Hayes" hit a low not seen since 2016. MSNBC viewers seem to have lost interest after Trump's win.
A TV news executive speculates that MSNBC’s audience loved to hate Trump during his first term, but not anymore. “MSNBC should not expect a ‘Trump Bump’ this time around,” the executive said. "Even liberals are rejecting its condescending tone."
Sharon Waxman, founder of TheWrap, took to social media, admitting she hasn’t watched since Trump’s victory. She expressed frustration with MSNBC hosts. "I can’t bear to listen to another minute of wisdom from Joy Reid or Rachel Maddow," she said.
MSNBC hosts have struggled to cope with Harris' loss. Some, like Stephanie Ruhle, said America was gambling with its future by choosing Trump. Others, including Joy Reid and Al Sharpton, blamed white voters and misogyny for Harris’ loss.
MSNBC has long championed "never-Trump" Republicans, but this approach seems to have backfired. "The lies, the hysteria, and the besmirchment only made Trump more popular," said OutKick’s Bobby Burack. MSNBC’s influence appears to have dwindled in the aftermath of Trump's sweeping victory.