President Trump called for MSNBC hosts Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow to resign while criticizing the network for what he described as declining viewership and credibility.
“Worse than CNN is ‘MS-DNC,’ which is the worst. And the good news is very few people watch them anymore,” Trump said to reporters Thursday in the Oval Office.
He specifically targeted Wallace over comments she made about DJ Daniels, a 13-year-old cancer survivor whom Trump honored with a Secret Service badge and invited as a special guest to his congressional address. “They have lost such credibility; and, frankly, what Nicolle Wallace said—I’ve never been a fan of hers, and she’s not very talented—but I’ll tell you, what she said the other day about that young man is disgraceful. She should be forced to resign,” Trump stated.
Wallace received backlash after saying she hopes Daniels “never has to defend the United States Capitol against Donald Trump’s supporters, and if he does, I hope he isn’t one of the six who loses his life to suicide.” Her remark sparked outrage among Trump supporters, who saw it as an unnecessary and inappropriate jab at the young boy and the former president.
Trump also went after Maddow, taking aim at her credibility and questioning her salary. “And Rachel Maddow should be forced to resign. Nobody watches her anyway. I don’t know if—it’s not possible they pay her as much money as I hear—but certainly she’s lost all credibility,” he added.
Many of Trump’s supporters have echoed his sentiments, arguing that MSNBC has become nothing more than a partisan outlet dedicated to attacking him and his administration. They believe that Wallace and Maddow are emblematic of a media industry that prioritizes sensationalism over facts and fairness. While MSNBC has defended its hosts, Trump’s criticism has further energized his base, reinforcing their belief that mainstream media cannot be trusted.