MSNBC's president steps down as network prepares for Trump's return to office

MSNBC president Rashida Jones is stepping down just days before Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Rebecca Kutler, senior vice president of content strategy at MSNBC, will step in as interim president effective immediately, although Jones will remain in an advisory role through March, reported the New York Times.

“Rebecca is the ideal leader to guide us through this moment, and I look forward to collaborating with her as we shape our collective future together,” said Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group.

Cable news has seen declining ratings across the industry since the 2024 presidential election, though MSNBC has been the second most-watched network since Trump won re-election – behind Fox News but ahead of CNN.

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Network executives are hoping audiences will return for analysis of Trump's presidency, and popular host Rachel Maddow will temporarily return to broadcasting her one-hour prime-time show five days a week for his first 100 days in office. She had been broadcasting just on Monday evenings.

Trump has threatened to use his administration to punish networks whose programming displeases him, and "Morning Joe" hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski sparked backlash by going to visit the president-elect at his home in Mar-a-Lago after he threatened to prosecute them over their criticism.