On Thursday, March 6, 2025, President Donald Trump demanded that MSNBC hosts Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow step down. He criticized them for their remarks about a young cancer survivor and reproached the network for its decrease in viewership.
From the Oval Office, Trump specifically mentioned Wallace in connection with her comments about DJ (Devarjaye) Daniel, a 13-year-old cancer survivor. Daniel had been recognized by Trump with an honorary Secret Service badge during a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.
Trump said, “Frankly, what Nicolle Wallace said — I’ve never been a fan of hers, and she’s not very talented — but I’ll tell you, what she said the other day about that young man is disgraceful. She should be forced to resign.”
The dispute arises from Wallace’s comments on her show, “Deadline: White House,” about the teen cancer survivor. She expressed a hope that Daniels would “never have to defend the United States Capitol against Donald Trump’s supporters, and if he does, I hope he isn’t one of the six who loses his life to suicide.”
Trump also criticized Rachel Maddow, insisting that “Rachel Maddow should be forced to resign. Nobody watches her anyway. I don’t know if — it’s not possible they pay her as much money as I hear — but certainly she’s lost all credibility.”
The president referred to MSNBC as “MS-DNC” and argued that the network is doing “worse than CNN” and has “lost such credibility.” He further claimed that MSNBC’s viewership has dwindled, with “very few people watching them anymore.”
Regarding the controversial remarks, Trump asserted, “Both of them. But what they said the other day, they should be forced to resign, about that young person who is suffering.”
Wallace’s comments about Daniels triggered backlash beyond the White House. Former co-host Meghan McCain labeled the remarks “a new low,” as reported by Daily Mail. Over the past year, viewership for Wallace’s show “Deadline: White House” reportedly fell by 35%, while Fox News programming during the same time slot tripled MSNBC’s numbers.
The White House also accused the MSNBC hosts of weaponizing a cancer survivor for political purposes against the president. Along with Wallace’s comments, Maddow reportedly described Trump’s recognition of Daniels as “disgusting,” accusing him of exploiting the boy’s illness for political gain.
Regarding Trump’s calls for the hosts’ resignations, MSNBC has chosen not to comment.
The controversy coincides with significant changes at MSNBC. Former network president Rashida Jones stepped down in January, having led the cable news network for four years. Rebecca Kutler, the former senior vice president of content strategy, has been named interim president and is introducing major programming changes.
Among Kutler’s changes is the cancellation of several shows, such as “The ReidOut” with Joy Reid and “Alex Wagner Tonight.” Other programs that have been cancelled include “The Katie Phang Show,” “Ayman with Ayman Mohyeldin,” and “José Díaz-Balart Reports.”
Also facing changes is Maddow’s show, with a majority of the production team being laid off. Maddow will keep her executive producer and some senior producers, but the rest of her team has been given the option to take severance or reapply for new roles. Maddow has criticized the network’s treatment of its staff, describing it as “unnerving” to see two non-white hosts in prime time lose their shows.
These changes at MSNBC occur as the network grapples with significant business issues. Industry analysts estimate a 10.5% decline in subscribers from 2023 to 2025. In response, Kutler plans to establish an independent news gathering apparatus, inaugurate a separate MSNBC Washington bureau, and introduce new international and domestic correspondents.
The network has also experienced a significant loss in viewers since Trump’s return to the White House. In an effort to regain viewers, Kutler is implementing programming changes, which include having Maddow host the 9 p.m. slot from Monday to Friday, before eventually reverting to hosting on Mondays only.
