President Trump recently criticized MSNBC, calling it a “failure by any name” and directed some scathing remarks at Comcast’s CEO, whom he referred to as “Dopey.” He expressed his thoughts in a late-night post on Truth Social, arguing that the network’s poor ratings have led it to change its branding in an attempt to shed the stigma of being labeled as “fake news.”
In his post, he stated, “Their weak and ineffective owner, ‘Concast,’ is quite amusing to watch, especially under the management of Dopey Brian Roberts. They’re desperately trying to distance themselves from the mess they’ve created!”
Interestingly, NBCUniversal did not respond to inquiries regarding Trump’s comments. Meanwhile, Comcast is reportedly requiring MSNBC to remove its iconic peacock logo as part of a rebranding initiative that involves a new name and a $7 billion spin-off of various cable assets.
Mark Lazarus, who heads Versant—a public company comprising MSNBC, CNBC, and other networks—announced plans to rebrand MSNBC as “MS Now.” He noted that the peacock symbolizes NBCUniversal and that the company has opted to keep it within the NBCU family.
Online, reactions to the new branding have been mixed. Some users have mocked the name, claiming it primarily serves distorted news or that “hardly anyone is watching.” Other commentators poked fun at the network’s anchors, some referring to it as “BS Now,” while others joked that “MS” might be a nod to multiple sclerosis.
Trump has had a long-standing disdain for MSNBC and its liberal news anchors, frequently using the nickname “MSDNC” to suggest a close alignment with Democratic leaders. Earlier this year, he labeled the network a “threat to our democracy” and questioned its legitimacy as a news outlet.
Additionally, Trump has been targeting mainstream outlets like ABC and CBS. He managed to secure financial settlements—$15 million from ABC News related to a lawsuit and $16 million from CBS’s owner for an interview with Kamala Harris—though he anticipates even more compensation.
In the meantime, MSNBC staff may react with surprise at this rebranding move, especially since Lazarus had previously reassured them in a meeting that the network would retain its name. An insider commented that changing the name after such promises could undermine confidence in the company’s new leadership.
