MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ Sees Sharp Ratings Decline After Hosts Meet with Donald Trump

MSNBC‘s flagship morning program, ‘Morning Joe,’ has experienced a significant drop in viewership following the revelation that hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski met with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence. The meeting, which was announced on Monday’s show, marked a surprising turn after years of the hosts criticizing Trump on their program.

According to Nielsen ratings, the four-hour broadcast of ‘Morning Joe’ on Wednesday drew an average of 647,000 total viewers, a 15% decline from Monday’s 770,000 viewers. The demographic most coveted by advertisers, adults aged 25-54, saw an even more drastic drop, with only 51,000 viewers on Wednesday, down nearly 41% from Monday’s 86,000 viewers in the same demographic.

The ratings plunge is part of a broader trend of declining viewership for ‘Morning Joe’ since the hosts’ announcement. On Tuesday, the show captured 680,000 total viewers, representing a 12% dip from Monday. This decline is particularly concerning given that MSNBC’s parent company, Comcast, has announced plans to spin off its cable channel lineup, including MSNBC and CNBC, amid significant cord-cutting and declining viewership.

The backlash from viewers and critics has been intense, with some accusing the hosts of “disgusting show of obeisance” and “cowardice” for meeting with Trump. Despite the criticism, Scarborough and Brzezinski have defended their actions, noting positive feedback from phone calls and other interactions. However, the negative reaction has been palpable, with even some MSNBC colleagues expressing disapproval.

The ratings woes for ‘Morning Joe’ reflect a larger challenge for MSNBC, which has seen its viewership decline significantly since Trump’s election victory. The network recently recorded its lowest ratings in 25 years in the key 25-54 demographic, losing 50% of its audience compared to earlier in 2024. In contrast, Fox News, a rival network, has seen its viewership surge to record levels.