Newsmax eclipses CNN in prime time as left-wing network reels from Trump town hall

CNN's prime time viewership fell below that of Newsmax last week, marking a significant drop in the network's ratings after it hosted a town hall event with former President Donald Trump that earned the ire of its largely left-leaning viewer base.

On Friday, the network brought in an average of 335,000 total viewers between 8 and 11 p.m., more than 20,000 below the right-wing Newsmax, which claimed 357,000 average viewers, according to Mediaite. Both significantly trailed the top two networks of Fox and MSNBC, which claimed 1.44 million and 1.08 million average prime time viewers, respectively.

CNN did outperform Newsmax among viewers aged 25-54, earning 87,000 average viewers to the other's 45,000.

The drop in CNN ratings comes the same week that the network enjoyed a major ratings boost last Wednesday night, during which time it hosted former President Donald Trump at a town hall event.

During that programming, moderator Kaitlan Collins attempted to steer the discourse and largely focused on left-wing political issues that failed to resonate with the Republican-leaning audience. Trump for his part, generally ignored or spoke over Collins while asserting his own positions on matters.

The event drew flak from CNN's left-leaning audience and Democratic political figures. New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for instance, excoriated the network for allowing Trump to repeat his political talking points on air.

The network's own talent, meanwhile, openly lamented that the network had signed off on the town hall, with prominent figures such as Anderson Cooper and Oliver Darcy both publicly expressing regret that the event had transpired.

"You have every right to be outraged today and be angry and never watch this outlet again," Cooper told viewers.

"It was Trump’s unhinged social media feed brought to life on stage," Darcy said of the town hall.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.