MSNBC’s audience appears to have embraced Morning Joe again. In recent months, the network’s flagship morning show has seen its ratings climb following President Donald Trump‘s second inauguration
Shortly after the 2024 election, Morning Joe saw its viewership steadily decline. During that period, co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski also found themselves under fire after disclosing an in-person meeting with Trump. At the time, they argued that it was “time to do something different” regarding covering the president.
But the show’s loyal audience rejected that premise, and made their displeasure known on social media. Morning Joe’s ratings slid during the week when they disclosed their in-person meeting. The show dropped -12% in total viewers from Monday, Nov. 18 to Tuesday, Nov. 19 and -17% from Monday to Wednesday, Nov. 20.
(At the time, a source at MSNBC noted to TVNewser that Morning Joe was up +4% in total viewers from Monday to Wednesday compared to the previous week. The network also maintains that the full week’s viewership didn’t experience significant declines.)
The slide continued during the post-election period. Five months in, though, the show’s audience seems to have returned. According to Nielsen Live Plus Same Day, Morning Joe is up +28% among total viewers and +18% in the demo compared to the post-election period between 11/11/2024 and 1/19/2025.
For the month of April to date (04/25/25), Morning Joe has averaged 749,000 total viewers and 65,000 demo viewers. Compared to March, Morning Joe was up +7% among total viewers and +10% in the demo.
That said, Morning Joe still trails Fox News’ Fox & Friends by wide margins. Fox & Friends’ average viewership more than doubled Morning Joe’s during the month of April in both measured categories.
Compared with CNN, though, Morning Joe enjoyed its 122nd consecutive monthly win in total viewers in April and also finished ahead of its rival’s morning program between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. by 65,000 vs. 57,000 A25-54 viewers.
Morning Joe’s bounceback has been felt in the nation’s capital. It’s currently on track to be the most-watched morning cable show in the No. 8 Nielsen DMA market.
The show has also enjoyed a strong performance on YouTube. Morning Joe posted 13.8 million views in April, up 20% from the post-election period.
[Editor’s Note: This post has been updated with ratings details from the week when the Morning Joe hosts made their announcement about meeting with Trump.]
