Donald Trump Gets Lowest Kennedy Center Honors Ratings Ever: Report
What To Know
- This year’s Kennedy Center Honors, hosted by Donald Trump, drew its lowest-ever TV audience with 2.65 million viewers, a 35% drop from last year.
- CBS significantly edited Trump’s opening remarks for broadcast, reducing them from 12 minutes to two and removing his negative comments about the audience.
- Although the Kennedy Center board voted to rename the institution after Trump alongside Kennedy, CBS News will not use the new name unless Congress approves the change.
Despite his claim that “just about everybody” in America wanted him to host this year’s Kennedy Center Honors special, President Donald Trump didn’t get many people to watch the CBS broadcast on Tuesday night.
Citing preliminary Nielsen data, Programming Insider reported the Kennedy Center Honors special drew its “smallest audience ever” with an average of 2.65 million viewers, representing a 35% decrease from last year’s then-record-low 4.1 million viewers. That stat represents “a staggering drop for one of broadcast TV’s most traditionally reliable specials,” Programming Insider added.
Trump tried to hype up his Kennedy Center Honors hosting gig in a Truth Social post earlier in the day. “At the request of the Board, and just about everybody else in America, I am hosting the event,” he wrote. “Tell me what you think of my ‘Master of Ceremony’ abilities. If really good, would you like me to leave the Presidency in order to make ‘hosting’ a full time job?”
This year’s Kennedy Center Honors — which were held in Washington, D.C., on December 7 — recognized George Strait, KISS, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Crawford, and Sylvester Stallone. Tom Cruise was offered the honors but declined due to scheduling conflicts, according to The Washington Post.
The Post also reported this week that CBS cut Trump’s opening remarks from 12 minutes to two minutes for broadcast — and edited out his calling the audience “miserable, horrible people.”
The network did add a voiceover introducing the “Trump-Kennedy Center Honors on CBS,” per Entertainment Weekly, after the Kennedy Center’s board voted to rename the institution as the Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the renaming vote was unanimous, but Ohio Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, a board member, said on social media that she was muted on the call, EW reports.
So far, CBS News is ignoring the name change, according to a standards-and-practices email cited by the Post. “Yesterday, the newly appointed board of the Kennedy Center voted to change the facility’s name to the Trump-Kennedy Center,” Jack Renaud, CBS’ senior director of standards and practices, wrote in the email. “But it would take Congressional approval to officially change the name. Therefore, CBS News will continue to use the ‘Kennedy Center.’”
Conversation19 Comments
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A
I'm guessing ratings for the "Trump-Kennedy Center Honors" will continue to fall until both the name of the president is removed and he's no longer the host.
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N
And those of us that like the President don't care what you or your TDS buddies think
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A
As the late Bob Newhart would say, "Same to you, fella!" And by the way, I did watch the first segment with Sylvester Stallone and was impressed by the tribute and I'll watch the rest of it soon. But I'm very glad they reduced the president's introductory speech from 12 minutes to 2 since it meant we were spared the more cringe-worthy aspects of it, that's for sure!
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B
CBS should have not edited out his calling the audience “miserable, horrible people.” If this is the Land of the Free, stop cutting out bits and show America the whole picture, even if was a waste of time, electricity and show The Donny Dump Awards Lovefest Ratings Winner Gala in full.
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N
Don't like it don't watch
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M
It was the most worst and biglyest ratings decline ever. People were coming to him with tears in their eyes and saying, “sir, that was the largest ratings decline I’ve ever seen.”
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C
Celebs need to start cancelling or declining anything to with the Kennedy Center until Trump is no longer associated with it in any way. It's loses credibility every day.
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N
No, you TDS people just need to stop commenting when your comments don't really matter. The show was wonderful and those there were truly enjoying it.
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J
I boycotted it and I'm glad I did.! I didn't want to hear one word coming out of "trump the hump's" mouth.
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N
And we don't want to hear one word from you and your TDS mouth
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D
Trump haters didn't watch due to Trump... Trump lovers didn't watch due to audience... Thus nobody watches..
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"Trump lovers didn't watch due to audience" What, exactly, did you mean by that?
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N
Think you have that wrong as many of us watched.
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A
tramp looks for every opportunity to spew his vitriol. Why give him an audience?
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B
Trump sues CBS for editing Kamala Harris interview because he thinks it makes him look bad, but it's OK to edit his comments to make him look good. Paramount sycophants.
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N
Just finished watching the Kennedy Center Awards Show and it was a great show. To those who didn't watch because of TDS, stay away as the rest of this great country doesn't need your stupid comments or approval.
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A
Actually tv shows depend on ratings so unless he finds a way to improve his message and attract more viewers, his goose is cooked as a tv host. Remember, “You’re fired!
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G
He won’t sleep with you just for defending him in the comments. Get an actual hobby
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A
Well, that was an interesting first sentence...
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