Instant Insight
30-Second Take
- Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration saw a significant drop in TV viewership compared to his first inauguration and other recent presidential inaugurations.
- The event drew an average of 26.05 million viewers across major broadcast and cable news networks.
- This decline marks a continuation of the trend where most second inaugurations attract fewer viewers than the first.
+ Dive Deeper
Quick Brief
2-Minute Digest
Essential Context
Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025, was marked by lower TV viewership. This decline is noteworthy, especially when compared to his first inauguration in 2017 and the inauguration of his predecessor, Joe Biden, in 2021.
Core Players
- Donald Trump – President of the United States
- Joe Biden – Former President of the United States
- Major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC)
- Cable news networks (CNN, Fox News, MSNBC)
Key Numbers
- 26.05 million – Average viewership for Trump’s 2025 inauguration across six major networks.
- 39.87 million – Viewership for Biden’s 2021 inauguration.
- 38.35 million – Viewership for Trump’s 2017 inauguration.
- 10.3 million – Average viewership for Fox News during the inauguration, the highest among all networks.
+ Full Analysis
Full Depth
Complete Coverage
The Catalyst
The lower viewership for Trump’s second inauguration is part of a historical trend where second terms generally attract fewer viewers. However, this drop is significant given the intense interest in Trump’s return to office.
The inauguration ceremony and parade were also moved indoors due to weather conditions, which might have impacted viewership.
Inside Forces
The ratings data indicates that Fox News dominated the coverage with an average of 10.3 million viewers, peaking at 10.59 million. This is consistent with Fox News’s historical performance during Trump-related events.
Other networks saw lower numbers, with ABC averaging 4.7 million, NBC at 4.4 million, and CBS at 4.1 million. CNN had 1.7 million viewers, while MSNBC had 848,000.
Power Dynamics
The inauguration ratings highlight the evolving media landscape and viewer preferences. Despite the drop in overall viewership, Fox News’s strong performance underscores its continued influence among conservative audiences.
This dynamic reflects broader shifts in how people consume news and political events, with cable news networks often drawing more dedicated viewers than traditional broadcast networks.
Outside Impact
The lower viewership could have broader implications for how political events are covered and consumed in the future. It may prompt networks to reevaluate their strategies for attracting and retaining viewers.
Additionally, the weather-related changes to the inauguration ceremony and parade might influence future event planning to ensure better viewer engagement.
Future Forces
Looking ahead, the media industry will likely adapt to these trends by investing more in digital platforms and engaging content formats to capture a wider audience.
The success of Fox News in this context suggests that niche targeting and strong brand loyalty can drive viewership, even in a declining overall market.
Data Points
- January 20, 2025 – Date of Trump’s second inauguration
- 26.05 million – Average viewership across six major networks
- 10.3 million – Average viewership for Fox News
- 4.7 million – Average viewership for ABC
- 20.5 million – Viewership for Obama’s second inauguration in 2013, the last time a president had lower viewership for their second term
The decline in viewership for Trump’s second inauguration reflects broader trends in how Americans engage with political events. As media consumption habits continue to evolve, understanding these shifts will be crucial for networks aiming to stay relevant.
