President Trump’s Historic Address to Congress: Ratings and Highlights
On Tuesday, President Trump made history by delivering the longest presidential address to a joint session of Congress, clocking in at one hour and 40 minutes. This momentous speech surpassed former President Bill Clinton’s record-setting address from the year 2000, which lasted an hour and 28 minutes.
Viewership Numbers: A Mixed Bag
While Trump’s address was notable for its length, the television ratings were a point of interest. The speech averaged an audience of 36.6 million viewers, representing a significant increase—almost 14%—over former President Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address. However, this figure fell short of Trump’s previous appearances. For comparison:
- 2017 Address: 47.7 million viewers
- 2018 State of the Union: 45.5 million viewers
- 2019 State of the Union: 46.8 million viewers
- 2020 State of the Union: 37.1 million viewers
The decline in viewership may reflect broader trends in the television landscape as more households move away from traditional cable services. This shift has altered how audiences access live broadcasts.
The Broadcast Landscape
Various major networks covered the address, with Fox News leading the pack at 10.7 million viewers. Other ratings included:
- ABC: 6.3 million viewers
- CBS: 4 million viewers
- NBC: 3.9 million viewers
- Fox Broadcast Network: 2.7 million viewers
- MSNBC: 1.9 million viewers
- CNN: 1.9 million viewers
It’s worth noting that many news organizations also livestreamed the speech on platforms like YouTube; however, those figures were not captured in the Nielsen ratings.
Content of the Address
During his address, Trump outlined a range of actions taken within the first 43 days of his nonconsecutive second term, intermixed with plans for the future. The speech was characterized by its energetic tone, but was also met with interruptions from some Democratic legislators present in the House chamber. Notably, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was escorted out after gesturing towards the president in the opening moments of the speech.
Conclusion
President Trump’s latest address, marked by its lengthy duration and significant, albeit lower, audience engagement compared to previous years, reflects both a pivotal moment in his presidency and the evolving media consumption habits of the American public.
