MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace remains embroiled in controversy following her controversial remarks about 13-year-old DJ Daniel, a young cancer patient and honorary U.S. Secret Service agent. Wallace’s comments, made just days after President Donald Trump’s congressional address, have reignited scrutiny over her declining ratings, which have plummeted since Trump’s victory last November.
Wallace’s Controversial Comments Spark Outrage
Wallace, the host of “Deadline: White House” airing weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m. EST, faced sharp criticism from President Trump and his allies after offering what many interpreted as a backhanded compliment to Daniel, who has been battling brain cancer for seven years. During Trump’s speech, Daniel was honored with a Secret Service designation, a heartwarming moment that Wallace quickly politicized during a post-address discussion with Rachel Maddow.
“I hope he has a long life as a law enforcement officer. But I hope he never has to defend the U.S. 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. And I hope he isn’t one who has to testify against the ones who carried out acts of seditious conspiracy and lived to see Donald Trump pardon those people,” Wallace stated.
The remarks immediately drew backlash, with critics accusing her of exploiting a sick child to take a swipe at Trump and his supporters.
Ratings Freefall for Wallace’s Show
Wallace’s comments have sparked renewed attention, but ironically, it is the most publicity she has received in months. Her program, “Deadline: White House,” once averaged 1.6 million viewers from early 2024 until Election Day but has since suffered a dramatic 35% decline following Trump’s victory. Throughout November and December, Wallace’s daily viewership dwindled to around one million as her liberal audience disengaged—a trend that has affected much of MSNBC’s lineup.
Fox News reports that Wallace may struggle to recover, particularly among advertisers seeking the key 25-54 demographic. Before the election, she averaged 144,000 viewers in this demo, but that number has since dropped to 93,000. Advertisers view these figures as a critical indicator of consumer influence, and Wallace’s downward trajectory signals she may no longer be a profitable asset for the network.
Since the beginning of 2025, her nightly viewership has rebounded slightly to 1.1 million, yet it still represents a 25% decline compared to the same period last year. In stark contrast, Fox News programs airing in the same 4-6 p.m. time slot attract an average of 3.6 million viewers—more than three times Wallace’s audience. Adding to the embarrassment, Wallace’s program now trails non-news competitors such as Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives” and BET’s “Tyler Perry’s Sistas” in key viewer demographics.
Trump and White House Officials Slam Wallace
President Trump amplified the controversy, condemning Wallace for leveraging a young cancer patient in her critique of his supporters.
“Frankly, what Nicolle Wallace said—I’ve never been a fan of hers, and she’s not very talented—but what she said about the young man is disgraceful. She should be forced to resign,” Trump declared on Thursday.
The White House also weighed in, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denouncing Wallace’s comments during a briefing on Wednesday. Leavitt accused Democrats and their media allies of prioritizing political attacks over decency and respect.
“Last night, MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace disgustingly looped in a 13-year-old boy with brain cancer into an attack on the president over January 6,” Leavitt said. “It’s sad and frankly pathetic that Democrats and liberals in the legacy media continue to allow their hatred for the president to override their love for our country.”
Conclusion
As backlash against Wallace intensifies, her comments have not only drawn widespread condemnation but have also exposed deeper issues regarding MSNBC’s struggle to retain viewers post-election. While her remarks may have reignited discussion around January 6, they have also fueled concerns over media bias and the exploitation of non-political figures—especially children—for partisan attacks. Whether Wallace can recover from this controversy remains uncertain, but her declining ratings suggest she may be facing an uphill battle in maintaining her influence in the media landscape.