Trump Afghanistan address draws 27.7 million viewers

President Trump’s prime-time Monday address to the nation on the administration’s Afghanistan strategy drew about 27.7 million total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

NBC topped other networks with 6.18 million total viewers compared to ABC’s 5.01 million, CBS’s 4.24 million and Fox’s broadcast channel at 2.3 million. 

On the cable news front, Fox News led the way with 4.72 million viewers. MSNBC finished second with 2.9 million and CNN third with 2.5 million. {mosads}

In the key 25- to 54-year-old demographic that advertisers covet most, Fox News delivered 1.116 million in the category. CNN took second with 790,000 and MSNBC third with 622,000. 

President Obama’s address to the nation on Afghanistan policy drew a total of 40 million viewers in 2009. That address was given in December, which invariably draws more viewers than August due to shorter daylight hours and colder weather across the country.  

In his address, Trump announced that he will not pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan while declaring a commitment to a new strategy aimed at winning the nation’s longest war, which has lasted nearly 17 years. 

“The American people are weary of war without victory. I share the American people’s frustration,” Trump said, adding that, “in the end, we will fight and we will win.” 

Trump declined to say how many troops he would send. Reports over the weekend put the number at 4,000. 
 
There are approximately 8,400 U.S. service members currently in Afghanistan.