ABC News, NBC News, and CNN did not broadcast President Donald Trump's primetime speech on election security live on Thursday. The address focused on alleged vulnerabilities in the 2020 election, with Trump asserting that "vital information" had been "covered up and hidden" from the American public.
During his remarks, Trump accused China of interfering in the 2020 election. He cited newly declassified documents, including CIA reporting, which he claimed alleged that the Chinese Communist Party sought to prevent his reelection. He also referred to FBI intelligence suggesting China attempted to create illegal ballots for Joe Biden.
Leading up to the address, the three networks, along with others, had formulated plans for covering Trump's remarks. A CNN spokesperson stated the network intended to cover the speech as a news event, offering analysis and commentary, and made the address available on its website and streaming platform. CNN anchor John King explained the decision by citing the president's past statements on elections, emphasizing the need for independent verification of the declassified documents.
ABC News broadcast the speech on its streaming platform and ABC News Radio, with regular newscasts covering the address. NBC News similarly streamed the speech and later aired a special report on its broadcast network, providing a recap of Trump's remarks shortly after they concluded.
President Trump criticized ABC and NBC for their decisions, labeling them "fake news." He suggested their actions were part of a plot to conceal the perceived corruption within the election system and protect the