Time to Put CNN on Suicide Watch: Matt Gaetz Gets Higher Ratings as a Guest Host on Newsmax

CNN’s ratings may have suffered their most embarrassing loss in recent memory as MAGA Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, serving as a guest host on the conservative TV network Newsmax, absolutely smoked them in the overall ratings in the 10 pm slot this past Friday.

It may feel like we’re kicking a dead horse at this point with news of CNN’s ratings plunging after the town hall with former President Donald Trump becoming commonplace.

But it’s a horse we enjoy kicking.

Gaetz filled in on “Greg Kelly Reports” on May 26th, drawing 282,000 viewers while at the same time, an episode of “The Whole Story With Anderson Cooper” only brought in 249,000 viewers.

The Florida Rep. opened the show promising to deliver “the biggest stories driving Washington, D.C. right now.”

Cooper’s show did edge Gaetz’s guest host spot slightly in the coveted 25-54 age demographic.

Matt Gaetz beat CNN in the ratings while guest-hosting Newsmax’s 10pm hour on Friday:

• 1st: Fox News 1.22million
• 2nd: MSNBC 922,000
• 3rd: Newsmax 282,000
• 4th: CNN: 249,000 https://t.co/tEMm3cgRAu pic.twitter.com/d87a31YoeX

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) May 31, 2023

RELATED: CNN’s Prime Time Ratings Absolutely Tank After Trump Town Hall, Now 4th Behind Newsmax

CNN’s Ratings Continue to Embarrass

Congressman Matt Gaetz’s guest hosting stint on Newsmax was the only slot in which that network beat out any of the competitors according to Friday’s ratings numbers.

Both shows were well behind MSNBC (922,000 viewers) and Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” (1,227,000 viewers).

As The Political Insider reported, CNN’s primetime ratings have plunged dramatically in the days following their town hall forum earlier this month with former President Donald Trump.

On Friday, May 12th, the network also came in fourth behind Fox News, MSNBC, and Newsmax. It marked a banner moment for the conservative outlet.

Just how bad are the ratings at CNN? Really, really, bad. The number of daily viewers has plummeted to the lowest since 2015. pic.twitter.com/Vp7IDtfogb

— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) May 24, 2023

RELATED: Gutfeld Smokes All CNN and MSNBC Shows in Cable News Ratings, Chris Wallace Sees His Worst Numbers Yet

The Trump Bump is Gone

CNN enjoyed a massive rating bump from Trump’s presence at the town hall earlier this month, earning 3.3 million viewers in the 8 pm slot that Wednesday and more than doubling the next closest network.

The numbers were even more impressive in the key 25-54 age demographic coveted by advertisers.

It didn’t take long for reality to smack the network square in the face, however.

⁦Just Wow!! 🎉 Fantastic ⁦@NEWSMAX⁩ TV prime time ratings beats ⁦@CNN⁩! Congrats ⁦⁦@ericbolling ⁦@ChrisPlanteShow⁩ & ⁦⁦@gregkellyusa⁩ & thanks ⁦@greta⁩ for reporting on this! 📺 pic.twitter.com/8VJ7PsEyke

— Deneen Borelli (@deneenborelli) May 15, 2023

Part of the story here isn’t simply Newsmax creating superior content to what CNN puts out every night. The left-wing network lost viewers by even daring to give the former President a voice – something their fans simply cannot tolerate.

At the same time, some viewers are flocking to Newsmax in search of an alternative during prime time due to Fox News’ disastrous firing of Tucker Carlson.

I think it’s odd but telling when CNN admits that the only way they can get anyone to watch their network – the only time they can boast of ratings – is when they have Trump on.

It explains a lot about much media behavior. https://t.co/kciWhTJ3O3

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 25, 2023

Reports surfaced in 2021 indicating that Gaetz might resign from Congress to pursue a career in media, specifically referencing the pursuit of a job with the conservative outlet.

Axios cited multiple sources who claimed Gaetz was “seriously considering not seeking re-election and possibly leaving Congress early for a job at Newsmax.”

Gaetz has told some of his allies he’s interested in becoming a media personality, and floated taking a role at Newsmax.

One of the sources said he has had early conversations with the network about what a position could look like.https://t.co/dhlyDgvkqU

— Axios (@axios) March 30, 2021

“Gaetz has told some of his allies he’s interested in becoming a media personality, and floated taking a role at Newsmax,” Axios wrote at the time.

A spokesperson for Newsmax indicated the network actually rejected Gaetz. Maybe they will re-think after these latest numbers.