MSNBC has experienced a significant decline in viewership following Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election. The network's primetime audience fell by 54%, dropping from an average of 1.1 million viewers in October to 736,000 on the last three weekdays following the election results.
In the primetime slot from 8-11 p.m. ET, MSNBC averaged 1.8 million viewers in October, but programs such as 'Alex Wagner Tonight' and 'All in with Chris Hayes' have seen their numbers decrease to just 808,000 viewers since election night. This marks a 31% decline and a 51% drop from year-to-date totals.
Fox News Channel, in contrast, reported a 61% increase in viewership during the same period. MSNBC's ratings have also dropped by 16% in total day viewership and 57% among the key demographic of adults aged 25-54.
Notably, several MSNBC programs recorded their lowest ratings of the year following the election. 'Alex Wagner Tonight' had its smallest audience since its launch in 2022, while 'All in with Chris Hayes' achieved its lowest rating since May 2016.
MSNBC's hosts and pundits have expressed distress over the election results, with some attributing blame for Trump's victory to various voter demographics. For example, Joy Reid suggested that White women were partly responsible for Kamala Harris' loss in North Carolina.
Despite MSNBC's previous ratings success, the network's current viewership decline indicates a shift in audience engagement following Trump's election.