Following a meeting among top NBC News executives, the network is expected to axe former Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. The move comes in response to numerous objections from network presenters and viewers to McDaniel’s being hired as a paid contributor. The official decision is reportedly still being deliberated by executives, with McDaniel exploring legal counsel options.
Initial news of McDaniel’s role with the network was made public on Friday, with McDaniel making a solitary appearance. There was swift opposition to her hiring from certain viewers as well as some on-air personalities, resulting in a trending #BoycottMeetThePress hashtag on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday morning.
MSNBC and NBC personalities Mika Brzezinski, Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O’Donnell, Jen Psaki, Joy Reid, Joe Scarborough, Chuck Todd, and Nicolle Wallace all objected publicly to McDaniel’s hiring. NBC executives were reportedly “stunned” by Todd’s denouncement, according to The New York Times.
The backlash against NBC’s hiring McDaniel suggests the former RNC chairwoman may now be one of the most unpopular people in U.S. politics. Many in the GOP base were as happy at the news of McDaniel’s resignation from the RNC as NBC viewers and employees were angry at the news of her being hired by the network.