MSNBC Ditches the “NBC” to Become MS NOW: Was Trump’s Legal War the Real Reason?

Trump himself mocked it on Truth Social in August: “LOOKING TO CHANGE THEIR NAME… TO GET AWAY FROM THE STENCH OF THEIR FAKE NEWS PRODUCT.”

There’s no evidence that the MSNBC rebrand to MS NOW was triggered by any specific lawsuit filed by Donald Trump or his team against the network. The core drivers remain the corporate spinoff from Comcast/NBCUniversal into Versant (finalized in late 2025), aimed at creating clear separation from NBC News to avoid brand confusion and build an independent identity.

However, the timing and context can’t be ignored: Trump’s aggressive legal war on media outlets he deems “fake news”—including threats and settlements totaling tens of millions—has created a chilling effect.

Joy Reid News

Industry insiders and former MSNBC hosts like Joy Reid have openly speculated that fear of future Trump retaliation played a role in accelerating the name drop, distancing the network from the “NBC” umbrella that could invite FCC scrutiny or worse.

Joy Reid (fired from MSNBC in February 2025) called the rebrand “perfect timing” to dodge threats, warning it might “bite back” by diluting the liberal edge.