Former President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to launch a critique against MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow, stating she would soon be off the air due to low ratings.
Trump's comments predicting the demise of the show follow Maddow's recent criticisms in which she compared him to Fidel Castro, as well as discussions about his association with Jan. 6 pardons and high-profile tech billionaires, as the Daily Mail reports.
On Truth Social, Trump expressed skepticism about Maddow's future on-air presence, asserting that her show suffers from poor viewership. He further extended his criticism to the networks MSNBC and CNN, suggesting they are near collapse and depicting them as adversaries of the public.
This online interaction occurred after a segment in which Maddow drew parallels between Trump and the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Her comments came while discussing the controversial pardons Trump issued in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol unrest, where over 100 law enforcement officers were injured.
Maddow's analysis also involved Stewart Rhodes, the Oath Keepers founder guilty of conspiring to execute a seditious plot. She speculated about unverified reports that Trump intended to host those convicted of assaulting police at the White House.
In the same segment, Maddow scrutinized Trump for marathon speeches reminiscent of Castro's lengthy addresses, suggesting audience members frequently leave before they are even halfway through. Besides, she questioned the presence of tech moguls, including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Tim Cook, at Trump's inauguration ceremony, highlighting the irony she perceived.
Chris Hayes, Maddow’s fellow MSNBC broadcaster, contributed to the discussion by comparing Trump's influence to that of a "cult leader," another remark that heightened tensions.
MSNBC faces challenges with viewer numbers, averaging 758,000 primetime viewers per Nielsen data for the week of Jan. 13. This is relatively low in contrast to Fox News, which recorded 3.2 million viewers around the 2024 election period. A change in MSNBC's leadership might be imminent as efforts are underway to incorporate more perspectives from the Republican side into the traditionally left-leaning programming.
Rashida Jones, the network's former president, stepped down earlier this month amidst what insiders described as a challenging period. Maddow, however, intensified her efforts during the early days of Trump's presidency by reverting to a five-night hosting schedule as newsroom strategies shift.
MSNBC has reportedly realigned Maddow’s salary as part of contractual modifications, reducing it by $5 million, though it remains substantial at an annual figure of $30 million. Maddow maintains her status as the second most highly paid TV news host, behind only Sean Hannity of Fox News, who earns $45 million annually.
In these shifting dynamics, MSNBC leadership remains focused on broadening their demographic reach. This commitment was partly why Maddow agreed to extend her tenure with the network for another five years.
While the full implications of Trump's attacks on Maddow and his portrayal of news networks remain to be seen, they underscore the tension between prominent media figures and political leaders. Maddow continues to wield significant influence through her platform, despite the challenges posed by the ratings and the evolving media landscape.
As broadcasters like MSNBC adapt to changing viewer preferences, the inclusion of diverse ideological perspectives is a strategic priority. This move may alter how such networks engage with political matters and personalities such as Trump, shaping both news coverage and audience interaction.
