On November 21, 2024, MSNBC's morning show, Morning Joe, experienced significant drops in viewership following hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski's announcement of a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump. Ratings for the 6 am hour fell from 839,000 total viewers and 113,000 in the key 25-54 demographic on Monday to 680,000 total viewers and 76,000 in the demo on Tuesday, marking a 38% decrease in total viewers and 37% in the demo.
This decline coincided with a broader trend of decreasing viewership for MSNBC since the election, with other prime-time shows also reporting low ratings. Scarborough commented on the potential consequences of the network's restructuring, stating, "we could all be fired a year from now."
In related news, actor Sebastian Stan criticized Hollywood elites for not acknowledging Trump's 2024 election victory. During a Q&A session in Los Angeles, he expressed frustration over the reluctance of fellow actors to engage with him regarding his portrayal of Trump in the film The Apprentice. The movie, released on October 11, 2024, has struggled at the box office, earning approximately $1.58 million against a $16 million budget.
Trump responded to the film on his social media platform, calling it a "cheap, defamatory" project aimed at undermining his political movement. Despite its poor performance, the film has received positive critical reviews.
As the political landscape evolves post-election, the implications of celebrity endorsements and media engagement continue to be significant factors in shaping public perception and turnout in future elections.