White House launches ‘Trump TV’ as CNN, MS NOW and Politico sue over press ban: What we know so far | Today’s news
The White House on Monday (local time) launched “Trump TV,” which provides viewers with a dedicated platform for presidential content. It is a 24/7 streaming platform that will feature US President Donald Trump’s past speeches, administration announcements and updates.
Announcing the launch, the White House’s official X account said: “IT’S LIVE. TRUMP TV IS NOW STREAMING. 24/7, updated in real time, with the best past moments, announcements and the latest and greatest from the administration, all in one place. Not every big moment has been on your TV, now it can.”
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“Trump TV” will feature “Top videos, keynotes and must-see highlights, streamed 24/7 and updated in real time,” according to the White House YouTube channel.
“Trump TV” marked its first broadcast by streaming Trump’s July 3 Mount Rushmore speech on the White House YouTube channel live, titled “TRUMP TV: The Essentials Station.”
During the inauguration, the White House aired footage of Trump’s previous public appearances and speeches, including his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States.
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Trump’s press ban
The launch comes amid an escalating dispute between the Trump administration and several major news organizations over access to the White House press.
Over the weekend, Trump banned reporters and photographers from three news outlets — CNN, Politico and MS NOW — “as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ of FAKE NEWS!”
Following Trump’s action, three national news outlets that were banned from the White House by President Donald Trump filed a critical First Amendment lawsuit to restore their access.
The urgent request will be presented to a federal judge in D.C. District Court and could result in hearings and legal arguments from the administration as early as this week.
The lawsuit will argue that Trump’s ban violates the First Amendment and constitutional due process protections.
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“This ban could not be a more direct attack on the First Amendment, or a more flagrant violation of our most basic constitutional principles,” the sources said in their lawsuit, which asks the court to act immediately and restore their reporters’ access to the White House.
Earlier Monday, Trump defended the restrictions placed on CNN, Politico and MS NOW after the three organizations filed a federal lawsuit challenging the administration’s decision to revoke access to their journalists.
US networks shut down Trump coverage in uproar
US television stations sparked an extraordinary uproar on Monday when they effectively boycotted coverage of President Donald Trump in protest of his decision to ban access to three top White House channels.
In a rare move, America’s five biggest broadcasters said Monday that in solidarity, CNN is ending its “pool” coverage of the White House – where the broadcaster films on behalf of all the TV stations.
Major television stations will reportedly refrain from deploying camera crews to document President Donald Trump’s activities.
According to reports, the action by the five networks that make up the television fund — ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News and CNN — will lead to the absence of broadcasts of the television channel, which is normally widely distributed in the media for most of the scheduled events of Trump.
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CNN was scheduled to serve as the White House television pool on Monday.
As a result of the row, Trump opened his beloved new White House helipad and his trip to the United Nations General Assembly went without live television coverage.
“I’m Never Boycotted”
Speaking to reporters outside Gracie Mansion after a meeting with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Trump dismissed suggestions that media organizations might boycott him.
“They said they were going to boycott me, but they never boycotted me. So I wasn’t too worried about it. Look at all the press,” Trump said.
Trump said the media had a duty to report fairly and defended his administration’s decision to crack down on outlets he accused of publishing what he called “fake news.”
“I think these deals have an obligation to be fair. And if it’s fake news, I really think I have an obligation not to let it into another very special house,” Trump said, referring to the White House.
The White House defended the restrictions by arguing that the First Amendment protects the media’s right to publish, but does not guarantee individual organizations access to the White House grounds, briefing rooms or the presidential press pool.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico challenged the restrictions in court, saying the government should not be able to determine which journalists have access to the White House based on their reporting.
The dispute also affected the White House television fund, which provides shared footage of presidential events to participating news organizations.
Trump is currently in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly and is scheduled to participate in a high-level general debate and hold meetings with several world leaders.
(With input from agencies)
