The swearing-in of Trump was seen by 30.6 million viewers across 12 networks, but it's still lower compared to the number of audience who watched President Barack Obama's first inauguration in 2009.
- Jan 23, 2017
AceShowbiz - Donald Trump's Inauguration was one of the biggest spectacles in the last three decades. Despite many backlashes to the 45th President of the United States, a large number of viewers tuned into the ceremony on Friday, January 20. According to Nielsen, the swearing-in of Trump was seen by 30.6 million viewers across 12 networks. It marks the second-highest ratings in 36 years.
An avid Twitter user, Trump couldn't help boasting about the ratings for his inauguration on the social media. He posted on early Sunday, "Wow, television ratings just out: 31 million people watched the Inauguration, 11 million more than the very good ratings from 4 years ago!"
Wow, television ratings just out: 31 million people watched the Inauguration, 11 million more than the very good ratings from 4 years ago!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2017
Trump may be proud about the ratings delivered by his inauguration, but he still can't beat the records set by Presidents Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Reagan's first inauguration in 1981 was seen by 41.8 million viewers, while Obama's first inauguration in 2009 drew 37.8 million viewers.
It should be noted though that Nielsen's ratings do not account for online viewing. The live-stream of the inauguration on CNN.com alone clocked 16.9 million views.
On Saturday, Trump slammed media, claiming that they underreported the number of audience attending his inauguration. "Honestly it looked like a million and half people, whatever it was it was. But it went all the way back to the Washington Monument ... and by mistake I get this network and it showed an empty field, and it said we drew 250,000 people. Now that's not bad, but it's a lie," he said while visiting CIA headquarters.
His spokesman Sean Spicer also argued, "This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe."
