36.6 million viewers watched Trump’s address at Congress

President Donald Trump broke records for the duration of his speech at Congress on Tuesday and the number of words used in his speech. How did he do in Nielsen TV ratings?

Trump drew around 36.6 million viewers, Nielsen said the number of people watching television programs. The number of viewers was lower than that of one of Trump’s first four addresses at the Congress in his previous administration.

More in -depth look: The graphics analyze Trump’s address.

Former President Bill Clinton retains the highest Nielsen note in the presidential speeches at Congress with 66.9 million viewers in 1993. Although viewers’ figures have since fluctuated, the overall trend shows a decline.

What presidents had the most viewers?

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The viewer culminated at 37,895,000 from 9:45 p.m. to 10 p.m., said Nielsen. Trump attracted the most viewers, 47.7 million, in his speech at Congress in 2017.

Viewers watching Trump on Tuesday:

• 5.7% were aged 18 to 34.
• 20.5% were aged 35 to 54.
• 70.7% were aged 55 and over.

The number of Trump viewers was 4.4 million more than those recorded by its predecessor Joe Biden in 2024.

Fewer viewers listened to the second Trump’s swear ceremony on January 20, Nielsen reported. In general, 24.6 million viewers watched the event on television, with a peak of 34.4 million recorded during the 12:15 a.m., said Nielsen.

The overall audience was less than 33.8 million estimated viewers who watched the inauguration of Joe Biden in 2021 and less than 30.6 million who saw the first inauguration of Trump in 2017, Nielsen reported.

Nielsen has the viewers of network programs and live flows by networks to streaming platforms.

Source USA Today Reporting and Research; Nielsen