Matt Gaetz Urges Elon Musk to Buy CNN Amid Declining Cable News Ratings
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz is photographed inside the Rayburn House Office Building Feb. 27, 2019. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Matt Gaetz called on Elon Musk to consider buying CNN on Sunday, as reports surfaced about the network’s struggle to retain viewers since the election. Gaetz’s suggestion followed a similar proposal involving MSNBC, which Musk had previously entertained after highlighting its declining audience numbers.
“Acquisition target @elonmusk?” Gaetz, a former Republican congressman, tweeted Sunday afternoon. His post included a report detailing significant primetime audience drops for both CNN and MSNBC. According to Nielsen ratings data, as reported by Forbes, CNN’s primetime viewership has dropped by 47%, while MSNBC has seen an even steeper decline of 53%.
The ratings plunge underscores a broader trend of viewership challenges for cable news networks in a post-election landscape. The conversation about Musk acquiring media assets gained traction last month when Donald Trump Jr. joked about the idea of buying MSNBC after encountering a false report suggesting the network’s parent company was putting it up for sale.
Musk’s response at the time added fuel to the speculation. “How much does it cost?” Musk replied. Musk, who recently acquired Twitter (now X), has shown interest in expanding his influence in media and communications. His public exchanges about purchasing traditional news outlets, even in jest, have sparked discussions about how he could reshape mainstream media if he chose to enter the space.
Gaetz’s tweet has reignited speculation about Musk’s potential ventures into cable news, with many wondering whether his disruptive approach could extend to transforming struggling media networks like CNN or MSNBC. Neither Musk nor CNN has publicly responded to Gaetz’s suggestion.
However, as CNN and MSNBC grapple with significant viewership declines, the possibility of Musk entering the space has become a topic of intrigue among political and media circles. For now, Musk’s focus appears to remain on Twitter, but Gaetz’s proposal reflects a growing curiosity about whether the tech billionaire will expand his influence into legacy media platforms. If he does, it could mark a new chapter in the ongoing evolution of the media landscape.
