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Trump’s Second Inauguration Draws 24.6 Million TV Viewers, Lowest Since 2013

While TV ratings for Trump’s second swearing-in dropped significantly, streaming platforms and social media saw substantial engagement.

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U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as he signs an executive order during the inaugural parade inside Capital One Arena on the inauguration day of his second presidential term, in Washington, U.S. January 20, 2025.
Joe Biden; Donald Trump
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Overview

  • Nielsen data shows 24.6 million television viewers watched Trump's second inauguration, a 27% decline from Biden's 2021 ceremony and 20% lower than Trump's 2017 inauguration.
  • Fox News led TV viewership with 10.3 million viewers during key moments, far outpacing other networks like ABC, NBC, and CNN.
  • Streaming platforms like YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Rumble saw millions of additional views, with X reporting 673 million video views and 4.8 billion impressions.
  • Older audiences dominated TV viewership, with 71% of viewers aged 55 and above, while younger demographics increasingly turned to digital platforms for coverage.
  • Historically, second-term inaugurations attract smaller audiences, and Trump’s unique nonconsecutive presidency followed this trend.