Last night, President Donald Trump took to Twitter to comment on both Fox News’ ratings on Inauguration Day and the “carnage” in Chicago (something he apparently got from a Bill O’Reilly segment).
Congratulations to @FoxNews for being number one in inauguration ratings. They were many times higher than FAKE NEWS @CNN – public is smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017
If Chicago doesn't fix the horrible "carnage" going on, 228 shootings in 2017 with 42 killings (up 24% from 2016), I will send in the Feds!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017
Well, shortly after Trump sent the ratings tweet, CNN’s PR Twitter account responded, providing POTUS with the Nielsen and streaming numbers for the entire day.
Congratulations to @FoxNews for being number one in inauguration ratings. They were many times higher than FAKE NEWS @CNN – public is smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017
CNN was referencing the cumulative number of those who tuned into their channel throughout the day and not just for the actual inauguration itself. Fox News led all of broadcast and cable news during the peak viewing times surrounding the swearing in ceremony. Fox also led CNN in primetime coverage.
Ratings for the inauguration have become a major focus of the Trump Administration as it attempts to justify its claims that the inauguration was the most watched in person and around the world of all time. This became a point of contention for the White House after photographs of the ceremony and parade showed sparse crowds.