It’s official: MSNBC is back in full meltdown mode. Inauguration Day coverage from the left-wing network was exactly what you’d expect—hours of pearl-clutching, apocalyptic rhetoric, and overwrought hand-wringing over the return of Donald Trump to the White House. And while Trump’s supporters celebrated his sweeping 2024 victory and his ambitious first-day agenda, MSNBC anchors like Rachel Maddow and Joy Reid treated the event like the end of the world.
Rachel Maddow kicked things off with the kind of incredulous commentary that’s become her trademark. Spotting DHS nominee Kristi Noem seated next to Apple CEO Tim Cook at the inauguration, Maddow breathlessly asked, “How is this happening in America?” She then launched into a rant about how billionaires and cabinet nominees were sharing the stage as if this were some unprecedented breach of democratic norms. Apparently, Maddow missed the memo that billionaires overwhelmingly backed Kamala Harris and the Democrats in 2024. But sure, Rachel—let’s pretend this is some kind of new, sinister development unique to Trump.
Joy Reid, meanwhile, took the opportunity to deliver a masterclass in doom and gloom, claiming Trump’s election victory exposed “fundamental flaws” in America’s democratic institutions. Reid, who has famously encouraged liberals to avoid Thanksgiving dinners with their Trump-supporting relatives, was in rare form as she rattled off a list of Trump’s policy priorities. Mass deportation? Ending birthright citizenship? Rolling back progressive policies? To Reid, these were nothing short of a moral catastrophe, proof that Trump’s presidency is all about “cruelty.” Of course, she neglected to mention that these very policies were exactly what secured Trump’s decisive win with voters tired of the status quo.
Reid also couldn’t resist revisiting the January 6 riot, once again labeling it a “coup” and tying it to Trump’s return to the presidency. According to her, Trump’s swearing-in was “essentially a delay in the completion of the insurrection.” Never mind that Trump’s victory came via the democratic process, with millions of Americans voting to bring him back to the Oval Office. For Reid and her colleagues, the peaceful transition of power apparently isn’t so peaceful when the person taking office doesn’t fit their preferred narrative.
In perhaps the most eye-rolling moment of the broadcast, Reid invoked Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., claiming that Trump and his administration were the opposite of King’s famous “content of their character” message. Reid insisted that Trump’s cabinet picks were based not on merit but on loyalty and their willingness to support his agenda. “It’s people he thinks will praise him,” she declared, adding that Trump’s policies would hurt vulnerable groups like immigrants and transgender Americans. Of course, no mention was made of Trump’s focus on restoring border security, reducing inflation, and addressing energy independence—issues that resonated deeply with millions of voters.
CNN wasn’t far behind in the hyperbole department. Contributor Tim Naftali accused Trump of acting like a “dictator on day one” after signing a flurry of executive orders, including one to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.” According to Naftali, this was a signal to far-right movements worldwide, framing Trump’s presidency as the beginning of an “imperialist” America. It’s a fascinating take, especially since the bulk of Trump’s executive orders were aimed at restoring American sovereignty and dismantling policies seen as overreaches of the Biden administration.
Watching legacy media have a meltdown over Trump’s inauguration is pure joy.
Enjoy!pic.twitter.com/wRT9hcHrsm
— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) January 21, 2025
The hand-wringing from MSNBC and CNN serves as a stark reminder of how out of touch the media elite remains with everyday Americans. While anchors like Maddow and Reid fret over “cruelty” and “institutions,” millions of voters saw Trump’s return to the White House as a chance to prioritize their needs: securing the border, tackling inflation, and restoring law and order. The media’s inability—or refusal—to understand this dynamic is precisely why their influence continues to wane.
The woke lefties are in complete meltdown. Trump shook the tree and all the mentally ill woke lefties fell out. It’s a great today for the world. God Bless @realDonaldTrump #TrumpInauguration2025 #Trump #Wokeness pic.twitter.com/YQsEhoqmtn
— TheIrishWatchdog (@WatchdogTh96012) January 21, 2025
The spectacle of MSNBC’s meltdown was as predictable as it was entertaining. For Trump’s supporters, it served as confirmation that his policies are hitting all the right notes. And for everyone else, it was just another example of how the mainstream media still hasn’t figured out how to deal with Donald Trump—other than to panic on live television.
