MSNBC debuted a virtual set for its preview coverage of Donald Trump’s address to Congress on March 4, 2025. The design incorporated a unique mix of classic Art Deco and modern aesthetics.
The virtual set utilized the green box studio adjacent to the main Studio 3A. While both spaces could be linked, the March 4th coverage kept them separate, using the virtual set for earlier hours and transitioning to the main Studio 3A later. The virtual environment featured a prominent wall of simulated windows offering a stylized view of the Capitol. Classical columns and walls, created using vertical bands of red, white, and off-whites, flanked the windows.
Shorter, curved virtual walls with integrated video screens sat in front of these walls. These screens showcased graphics from the same package initially used for Trump’s inauguration coverage. Additional walls of windows, each depicting a different Washington, D.C. landmark (the White House on one side and the Washington Monument on the other), extended the set’s depth.
Gold accents were incorporated throughout, appearing on the floor, shorter walls, window frames, and mullions. A diamond pattern in cream and gold further enhanced the design. Two coordinating LED and banded desk segments were arranged side-by-side, creating a large desk for up to five people, also incorporating gold banding.
The design drew inspiration from D.C.’s classic architecture and the Art Deco motifs of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where the studio is located. Previously, MSNBC used Studio 3AW (formerly 3C) for multi-host political coverage, a set originally designed for “NBC Nightly News.”
The March 4th virtual set contrasted with MSNBC’s 2021 election virtual environment, which was more modern and sleek but still featured gold hues and Art Deco elements. This implementation follows NBC News’ use of a virtual setup for its 2024 election coverage in Studio 4E. MSNBC recently renovated a portion of its space, adding a curved video wall and faux-painted brick elements.
MSNBC's use of the green studio has been infrequent, except for election coverage and an April 2024 eclipse broadcast that transformed the studio into a portal to outer space. The network has creatively integrated the virtual and real sets, as seen during the 2022 midterms, “transporting” viewers between New York and a virtual Washington, D.C.