CNN's viewership has dropped significantly since the peak of the 'Trump bump', losing over 40% of its audience from 2017 to 2025 as the media landscape evolves.
During Donald Trump's first term, CNN experienced a notable increase in viewership often referred to as the 'Trump bump', benefiting from the intense political climate. However, a recent analysis reveals a stark decline in CNN's ratings, showing a more than 40% drop in both total day and primetime audience from 2017 to 2025. This decline highlights a shift in viewer habits and network strategies amid a changing media environment as Trump's presence in politics has diminished.
Since 2015, CNN's ratings trajectory has dramatically changed; for instance, in 2015, CNN averaged 711,000 primetime viewers but faced a significant drop as viewers' interests evolved. The shift became apparent as early as 2016, when Trump's candidacy began capturing significant media attention and boosted CNN's ratings. The 2025 predictions indicate that the network's audience may further dwindle, primarily due to the saturation of political content and the rise of alternative news sources.
