Trump inauguration draws 2nd highest TV ratings since Reagan (Clinton, Barack Obama, speech)

[mightleavenyc]

Wasn't so small after all.

Trump inauguration draws nearly 31 million U.S. television viewers | Reuters

Trump's total was greater than both swearing-ins of Democrat Bill Clinton - 29.7 million and 21.6 million - and the second inauguration of Obama, who drew an average audience of over 20.5 million in 2013, Nielsen said.

[MMS02760]

Originally Posted by mightleavenyc

Wasn't so small after all.

Trump inauguration draws nearly 31 million U.S. television viewers | Reuters

It had decent ratings. No one is denying that. Some other recent inaugurations however had even bigger numbers. The WH is denying that fact.

1981 Reagan 42m
2009 Obama 38m

[Retroit]

I'm guessing a lot of people watched on computers, smart phones, iPads, etc. which weren't counted or previously available.

[PedroMartinez]

Seriously, who watches these?

I watched in 1984, because I had turned 18 in time to vote in that election, but not one since.

I guess it's history, but it's not a moon landing or the fall of the Berlin Wall.

[Domitian]

Considering most trump voters were at work, most probably Watched n comouters or smartphones like I did.

It was a historic inauguration in that it showed that a non-politician can win and can do it without spending a billion dollars.

[ChristineVA]

Who had the first highest ratings since Reagan?

[mightleavenyc]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

Who had the first highest ratings since Reagan?

Obama in 08.

[gladhands]

Originally Posted by Domitian

Considering most trump voters were at work, most probably Watched n comouters or smartphones like I did.

It was a historic inauguration in that it showed that a non-politician can win and can do it without spending a billion dollars.

But I thought they voted Trump because there are no jobs. Which is it?

[Max Sterling]

You left out the important parts of that article.

Nearly 31 million viewers watched live U.S. television coverage of Donald Trump's presidential inauguration, far fewer than tuned in to Barack Obama's first swearing-in.

The 2009 inauguration of Obama, who became the nation's first African-American president that year, was watched by nearly 38 million viewers, the second-highest number since Nielsen began compiling such figures with Richard Nixon's 1969 oath of office.

And I have to say it was hilarious to watch Trump's press guy get in front of the cameras and become the 2nd coming of Saddam Huessin's propaganda guy and LIE like a rug in the face of undeniable evidence that far, FAR fewer people attended Trump's inauguration than Obama's. Yes yes I know most of Trump's supporters were working of course they were.

[Ponderosa]

I watched. Not because I support Trump, but because I wanted to see if he would act like a president, talk like a president, and try to include even those like me. He did not. He disappointed. It was his campaign speech without the red hat. I turned it off just as soon as Obama left on the helicopter and Biden boarded the railroad car (that was rich). So let's not conflate the numbers into some approval factor. Half the people who watch Trump are doing it to see the train wreck.