President Donald Trump unleashed a scathing attack on MSNBC this week, calling for the leftist network to be shut down and accusing it of operating as little more than a propaganda arm for the Democratic National Committee. Trump’s comments came on the heels of CNN announcing massive layoffs amid plummeting ratings, signaling a seismic shift in the media landscape as Trump returns to the White House.
“MSDNC is even worse than CNN,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to MSNBC by his trademark nickname. “They shouldn’t have a right to broadcast—Only in America!” The president’s remarks reflect his long-standing critique of media outlets that he views as openly hostile and unfairly biased against him.
Trump’s comments come as MSNBC’s flagship anchors Rachel Maddow and Joy Reid went into full meltdown mode during their coverage of Inauguration Day. Maddow, apparently distraught over the sight of a democratically elected president implementing his agenda, incredulously asked, “How is this happening in America?” Her bewilderment reached new heights as she and Reid fixated on Department of Homeland Security nominee Kristi Noem’s seating arrangement with Apple CEO Tim Cook during the ceremony.
Meanwhile, over at CNN, new CEO Mark Thompson appears to be charting a different course, urging the network’s on-air talent to tone down the outrage. According to reports, Thompson instructed staffers, including high-profile anchors like Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper, to avoid editorializing about Trump’s return to office and to steer clear of dredging up past controversies. Thompson reportedly emphasized that the network should remain “open-minded” about Trump’s second term, a notable departure from CNN’s historically adversarial stance toward the president.
Thompson’s attempt to rein in the network’s overt bias comes as CNN prepares to lay off hundreds of employees, a stark reflection of its ongoing ratings collapse. For years, CNN and MSNBC have relied on anti-Trump hysteria to drive viewership, but with Trump now back in the Oval Office, the cracks in their business model are becoming impossible to ignore.
While CNN appears to be taking baby steps toward self-awareness, MSNBC seems determined to double down on its partisan rhetoric. The network’s obsession with relitigating Trump’s past rather than reporting on his policies speaks volumes about its priorities. Rather than informing the public, it seems MSNBC is more interested in catering to its left-wing base, no matter how out of touch it makes them look.
Trump’s takedown of MSNBC isn’t just about media bias—it’s about holding powerful institutions accountable. For years, networks like CNN and MSNBC have abandoned journalistic standards in favor of partisan activism, and the American people are tuning out in droves. Trump’s criticism of the media resonates because it’s grounded in a truth that millions of Americans already recognize: these networks have lost touch with their responsibility to provide fair and balanced reporting.