MSNBC prez Rashida Jones may quit after Trump inauguration: report

MSNBC president Rashida Jones is reportedly weighting the decision to bail from the network after President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. Jones has been president of the media since 2021 when she became the first black woman to head a major national media outlet. 

Amid dropping ratings at the network, Jones is considering the move for next, according to the New York Post. If she follows through, Jones will supposedly plan her move to coincide with Trump’s scheduled swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20, Oliver Darcy claimed in his Status newsletter, referring to anonymous sources. However, Darcy cautioned that Jones is still in consideration mode and hasn’t fully decided. A spokesman for Jones reportedly denied the story after it was released.  

Brian Stelter verified the report, also based on anonymous sources. “It’s amazing how people want to spend more time with their families or look for new challenges when the ratings crash,” a media executive quipped. “Of course she’s making the decision. They’re all leaving on their own, Norah O’Donnell, Chris Wallace.”  

Both O’Donnell and Wallace were reportedly facing massive salary cuts at the network, the Post noted. But an MSNBC source told the outlet that Jones was not being ousted by network financial bosses. “Anyone who believes that Rashida’s potential decision to leave is influenced by anyone other than herself clearly underestimates the respect she has inside 30 Rock.” 

Besides the ratings fall-out, the network hosts and contributors are reportedly furious over fellow MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski visiting Trump at his Mar-a-Lago compound with Rachel Maddow being one of the hosts taking issue with the visit.  

The Morning Joe hosts announced their visit to Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, FL, to “restart communications” in a November episode that shocked both fans and opponents of the show but has led to a drop in ratings from their audience.

MSNBC has watched its ratings plummet since Trump won the presidential election on Nov. 5. Since Election Day, MSNBC has logged an average of 497,000 viewers during the day, a 47 percent decrease, the Post noted, citing data from Nielsen.