Washington, DC: US President Donald Trump targeted MS NOW’s Joe Scarborough and HBO’s Bill Maher in two early-morning posts on Truth Social, criticising their television ratings.
Trump first took aim at Maher, saying, “Bill Maher’s ratings are so low that it is hard to believe his show can continue,” while adding that he liked Maher in many ways. He also argued that Republicans should not use Maher as a sounding board, saying, “It makes them look sooo weak and foolish!”
Maher has recently gained influence in Republican circles, with his criticism of the far-left receiving attention on Fox News and elsewhere.
Trump then turned his attention to Scarborough, claiming that his show had been reduced significantly and would soon be “dead!” He also described the programme as “Too predictable and boring! REALLY BAD RATINGS, just like the rest of MSNOW (MSDNC!).”
However, the figures cited in the report show that Morning Joe averaged 733,000 viewers in August, marking a 27% rise from the previous year. The programme also recorded its highest rating among morning shows in the Washington, D.C., market.
These figures contrast with Trump’s comments about the programme’s ratings. Scarborough responded to Trump’s remarks, with his reaction set to be covered separately.
