President Donald Trump set records for the length and word count of his address to Congress on Tuesday. But how did his speech fare in Nielsen’s TV ratings?
According to Nielsen, which monitors television viewership, Trump attracted approximately 36.6 million viewers. This figure is lower than any of the viewership numbers for his first four addresses to Congress during his prior term.
In-depth analysis: Visuals break down Trump’s address.
Former President Bill Clinton holds the record for the highest Nielsen rating in presidential addresses to Congress, drawing 66.9 million viewers in 1993. Although viewership numbers have varied over the years, the general trend indicates a decrease.
Which presidents had the highest TV ratings?
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Nielsen reported that viewership peaked at 37,895,000 between 9:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET. Trump’s address in 2017 remains his most viewed, capturing 47.7 million viewers.
Among the viewers watching Trump on Tuesday:
- 5.7% were aged 18-34.
- 20.5% were aged 35-54.
- 70.7% were aged 55 and older.
Trump’s viewership outpaced his predecessor Joe Biden by 4.4 million in 2024.
Fewer individuals tuned in for Trump’s second swearing-in ceremony on January 20, with Nielsen estimating 24.6 million viewers overall, peaking at 34.4 million during the 12:15 quarter-hour.
This overall viewership was lower than the estimated 33.8 million who watched Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021 and less than the 30.6 million who viewed Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, according to Nielsen.
SOURCE: USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Nielsen
