Trump knocks MSNBC, CNN ratings: ‘Fake News never wins!’

President Trump on Thursday took aim at “Morning Joe” as well as other shows on MSNBC and CNN, calling them “fake news” and mocking their ratings following the release of a summary of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report. 

“Wow, ratings for ‘Morning Joe,’ which were really bad in the first place, just ‘tanked’ with the release of the Mueller Report,” Trump tweeted. “Likewise, other shows on MSNBC and CNN have gone down by as much as 50%. Just shows, Fake News never wins!”

Wow, ratings for “Morning Joe,” which were really bad in the first place, just “tanked” with the release of the Mueller Report. Likewise, other shows on MSNBC and CNN have gone down by as much as 50%. Just shows, Fake News never wins!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2019

{mosads}Programs on MSNBC and CNN have seen their ratings decline since Attorney General William Barr said in a letter to Congress on Sunday that Mueller, who investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election, did not uncover evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. 

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that MSNBC’s “Maddow,” hosted by Rachel Maddow, was watched on Monday by 2.5 million, down 19 percent from her average this year. It was then viewed by 2.3 million people on Tuesday.

Other prime-time hosts on MSNBC and CNN also saw their viewership decline on Monday and Tuesday, according to the AP. The news service did not report the ratings for the networks’ morning shows, including “Morning Joe” and CNN’s “New Day.”

Nielsen ratings show that “The Rachel Maddow Show” and “Morning Joe” had been enjoying record viewership this year. “The Rachel Maddow Show” is on track to finish the first quarter of 2019 with its highest-rated quarter, while “Morning Joe” is also having its best quarter attracting viewers.

Ratings for prime-time shows on Fox News, a friendlier network to Trump, have been up this week, according to the AP. Fox News’s “Hannity,” hosted by Sean Hannity, saw its viewership increase to 4 million on Monday, up 32 percent from its average, according to the AP. The audience then dropped to 3.57 million on Tuesday.

The AP reported that ratings also went up for the prime-time Fox News programs hosted by Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham. 

Trump has often lashed out at MSNBC, CNN and other news outlets he sees as critical of him, referring to them as “fake news.”

In another early morning tweet on Thursday, he said the “Fake News Media” is suffering a major “breakdown.”

“I have learned to live with Fake News, which has never been more corrupt than it is right now,” he added. “Someday, I will tell you the secret!”

The Fake News Media is going Crazy! They are suffering a major “breakdown,” have ZERO credibility or respect, & must be thinking about going legit. I have learned to live with Fake News, which has never been more corrupt than it is right now. Someday, I will tell you the secret!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2019

–This report was updated at 10:57 a.m.