Trump’s GOP convention speech draws 2.5 million viewers on Fox News
TLE DESK: President Donald Trump’s speech at the opening night of the Republican Party’s midterm convention drew about 2.5 million viewers on Fox News, according to Nielsen ratings.
Fox News was the only major US news network to carry Trump’s roughly two-hour address in full, while CNN and MS NOW provided significantly less television coverage of the speech.
CNN attracted about 441,000 viewers during the relevant period, while MS NOW drew around 1 million, according to Nielsen data.
Trump claims ratings victory
Trump had claimed the convention outperformed the NFL’s season-opening game in television ratings, but available Nielsen figures do not support that comparison.
The NFL opener between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots was broadcast nationally and traditionally attracts a much larger audience. Last year’s season opener drew nearly 28 million viewers.
The ratings came as the Republican Party held its first-ever midterm convention in Dallas, an event designed to energise the party’s base and rally support ahead of the November congressional elections.
Trump used his address to frame the midterms as a referendum on his presidency and urged Republican supporters to campaign as if he himself were on the ballot.
The relatively modest television audience also highlighted the challenge facing Republicans as they seek to turn Trump’s strong support among his core voters into broader electoral momentum in the midterm elections.
