A lower ratings number for the State of the Union address provided fodder for Stephen Colbert to mock President Donald Trump for “dragging down broadcast television.”
According to Nielsen, 32.6 million viewers tuned in to Trump’s speech Tuesday. The was an 11% drop from the 36.6 million who watched his address last year.
This year’s audience edged out former President Joe Biden’s final State of the Union in 2024, which drew 32.2 million viewers.
On Thursday’s “The Late Show,” jumped at the chance to point out the decease in viewership.
“The Nielsen ratings for his speech are in, and Trump’s talk-a-thon saw an 11% decrease from last year,” Colbert said.
“Donald Trump is really dragging down broadcast television. I mean, if I were CBS, I’d cancel him,” Colbert added, referencing his own network’s decision to cancel his show, which is set to end in May.
Colbert then pointed to his show’s ratings figures.
“But you know, linear television is doomed and everyone’s ratings are going down, right? I’m sorry, what’s that? Our ratings were up 7%?” he said.
“Over the same last year? So last year’s and this year’s? I’m up 7%? Holy cow!” he added.
“You know what I think is going on? People may not like watching Trump, but they do like watching me not like watching Trump,” Colbert said.
