'Gutfeld!' draws largest audience in program history with Trump appearance

Fox News Channel’s "Gutfeld!" landed its largest audience in the program’s history on Wednesday when former President Trump made a guest appearance.

Trump joined host Greg Gutfeld for the entire hour, participating in the program’s signature banter alongside Kat Timpf, Tyrus and "Outnumbered" co-host Emily Compagno. The former president was asked about surviving a pair of assassination attempts, the ABC Presidential Debate and criticism he receives from celebrities, among other topics. 

"Gutfeld!" averaged 4.9 million total viewers and 744,000 in the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults aged 25-54. It was the largest audience "Gutfeld!" has drawn among both categories since it launched in 2021. 

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"Gutfeld!" also had more total viewers than the season premieres of CBS’ "Survivor" and ABC’s "The Golden Bachelorette," making it the most-watched show in all of cable and broadcast primetime on Wednesday. 

While Wednesday’s episode set records, "Gutfeld!" is regularly among the most-watched cable news programs in America and finished August as the No. 1 cable news program in the key demo. 

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According to Nielsen MRI Fusion, "Gutfeld!" attracts more independents and Democrats than all broadcast late-night programs.

Trump’s appearance was taped Wednesday afternoon at FOX News Media’s New York City headquarters before the former president headed to Long Island for a campaign rally. He had not appeared on a broadcast or cable late-night show during an election cycle since NBC’s "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in 2016.

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Brian Flood is a media editor/reporter for FOX News Digital. Story tips can be sent to brian.flood@fox.com and on Twitter: @briansflood.