'Smallest audience ever': Kennedy Center Honors tank on CBS after Trump takes over

[riversedge]

Source: raw story


David Edwards December 24, 2025 4:16PM ET



"The Kennedy Center Honors" reportedly drew its lowest ratings ever after President Donald Trump announced he would host the event.

"According to preliminary Nielsen data, 'The Kennedy Center Honors' on CBS drew its smallest audience ever on the night of December 23, 2025, averaging an estimated 2.65 million viewers," Programming Insider reported on Wednesday. "To put that in perspective: the 2024 broadcast averaged 4.1 million."

On Tuesday, the president insisted that the event had been renamed "The Trump Kennedy Center Honors" and that he would host the program.

"At the request of the Board, and just about everybody else in America, I am hosting the event. Tell me what you think of my 'Master of Ceremony' abilities," he wrote on Truth Social.....................




Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-kennedy-center-ratings/

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Makes my day!!

www.rawstory.com/trump-kenned...

— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social) 2025-12-24T21:28:21.377Z

[cstanleytech]

1. Here's what I think about you hosting Donald 🖕

[truthisfreedom]

2. On CBS? Perfect pairing.

They deserve each other. This is their moment to fail together.

[truthisfreedom]

3. 2.65 million viewers for a once-a-year event.

“Stephen Colbert's The Late Show consistently ranks as a top late-night program, often leading in total viewers; recent Nielsen data from late 2025 shows audiences around 2.7 to 2.8 million viewers (Live+7), though ratings fluctuate monthly, with him sometimes second to Jimmy Kimmel Live! or Gutfeld! in specific metrics or months, but generally holding strong as the #1 late-night show overall for total viewership.”

[Red Mountain]

13. So the reason they gave for cancelling.....

was that it (Colbert) wasn't profitable.

That make sense? I guess salaries might be higher than other shows but......

[70sEraVet]

15. And I guess that that tally of viewers of The Late Show......

doesn't include all the people who catch the show the next day, like I do.

[Rhiannon12866]

20. And I post it here every night it's on as soon as it's available which is late

And depending on the guest, there are times it's the entire show.

[IronLionZion]

21. I always like watching it the next day on Youtube

[Rhiannon12866]

22. I started posting the show here in 2017 I think.

Since I know that not everyone stays up as late as I do, and some don't even have TV. Plus, especially these days, we could sure use the humor...

BTW, I also keep track and the show is in repeats for the next two weeks.

[70sEraVet]

34. I very often use the links you provide

You provide a very appreciated service!

[Rhiannon12866]

35. Thanks! You're who I post it for!

I recently heard a conversation between Rachel Maddow and Nicolle Wallace about getting Colbert's show no longer cancelled. I know it's a long shot, especially now what's happening on CBS, but I have hopes! I like all the late night guys and know they're all friends (including John Oliver), but Colbert really is the best. I remember once when there was breaking news (think the felon-in-chief was visiting Kim Jong Un) during Colbert's monologue taping, so he dispensed with the written script and ad libbed the rest...

[onenote]

36. Do you watch the ads when you time shift?

Because advertisers don't care about folks who record and watch later if they're skipping the ads.

[walkingman]

4. The President of the US is a total loser - so sad.

[kimbutgar]

5. Overjoyed I missed it!

I deleted immediately on my prime time DVR.

[flashman13]

6. You suck Donny!

[Rebl2]

7. Didn't

Know it was on last night. I thought it was normally on after Christmas. I wouldn’t have watched it anyway.

[Katinfl]

8. He couldn't host his way out of a paper bag.

[sarchasm]

9. He seems to have a lot of "smallest ever" distinctions...

hands
ratings
public opinion/approval
golf skill
popular vote victory margin
electoral vote total
historical presidential ranking
time for ear to heal after being shot by a AR15 style rifle
political experience
circle of trust

[Borogove]

29. You left out brain and penis.

[twodogsbarking]

10. I completely forgot about it. Selective memory.

[Mawspam2]

11. Trump Show cancelled due to poor ratings.

So looking forward to the final scene of Network playing out.

https://m.

[twodogsbarking]

12. Next time just have it in your bathroom Donny boy. Move those classified files and there is plenty of room.

Air frehener would be a good idea.

[TommieMommy]

14. Did not watch

[moonshinegnomie]

16. if anyone has a xitter or truth social account

it would be a shame if that were to be posted on his account sor the white house accounts. (i posted it on hi xitter account as well as remnding him cobert gets higher ratings than he did.....

[paleotn]

17. Low ratings. Low energy.

Go to sleep forever, Donnie.

[Upthevibe]

18. Kick. N/T

[sakabatou]

19. *pretends to be surprised*

[electric_blue68]

23. Awww, too bad, Sooo sad... NOT! 😄

👍😄👍😄👍😄👍

[LetMyPeopleVote]

24. trump-hosted Kennedy Center honors just did its "smallest audience ever", roughly half of the previous record low

[TheFarseer]

32. You know he's going to say

It’s the highest ratings ever. Everyone said I was the best host ever.

[Scarlet Begalas]

39. Re: Farseer

It was, without a doubt, the highest rated Kennedy Center Honors program of 2025!!!!!!

[Cha]

25. America Talks with their Not

Watching the Lying Pile of Shit.. Fuck CBS.

[twodogsbarking]

26. Remove the name "Kennedy" from the Center. JFK deserves better.

[wcmagumba]

27. T-rump just didn't fit in my day...

[wolfie001]

28. Big fat loser

[Midnight Writer]

30. I have a feeling that if only somebody had given this guy a big enough TV contract we wouldn't be dealing with him now.

[Deminpenn]

31. Good job, Bari

Her CBS News decisions are now bleeding over into regular programming.

[Martin68]

33. I'e been a Kennedy Center member and donor for 20 years. That's five until Trump's name is removed.

[OAITW r.2.0]

37. Every day, in every way, Trump gets to see how unpopular he is.

[Grins]

38. Will some reporter please ask the ratings-obsessed squid...

[“The ratings for your show were lower than any broadcast in decades. Worse than - Stephen Colbert!

Should the Kennedy Center BEG Colbert to host next year! He was hit last time!”

Just for the meltdown. Be wild!!!

[fujiyamasan]

40. I always found it boring even when it was a president I supported

Now, the entertainers are mostly third rate hacks.

Not sure why anyone would waste their time with it. And viewership is more fragmented than ever before. Non supporters are going to automatically tune this out.

[oasis]

41. Host this Mr. Master of Ceremonies 🖕🏼