President Trump has launched a new media platform, dubbed "Trump TV," as a direct response to major television networks suspending their coverage of White House events. The network, described as "essential television," began streaming Monday evening and features "top past moments, announcements, and the latest and greatest from the administration."
The first broadcast on the new network was President Trump's speech from Mount Rushmore on July 3rd. The announcement of "Trump TV" came amidst an escalating conflict between the administration and several news organizations.
Earlier on Monday, the five major networks that distribute presidential event footage—CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox News—announced they were suspending their television pool service indefinitely. This action was in protest of the White House ban on reporters from CNN, MSNow, and Politico. In solidarity, several newspapers, including The New York Times and The Washington Post, announced they would not publish photographs of the president taken by still photographers.
The TV networks pointedly did not air President Trump’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new presidential helipad on Monday afternoon. The White House broadcasted the ceremony on its own social media channels, but the audio quality was reportedly poor due to the noise from Marine One.
A joint statement from the affected networks stated, "The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting."
The White House, however, dismissed the boycott. "Access changes are nothing new. What is new, however, is the sudden claim that it becomes sacred only when the outlets are friendly to the Radical Left," an administration statement read. "The rule was never ‘every outlet gets in.’ It was always ‘our side stays in.'"
CNN, MSNow, and Politico have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to restore their White House press credentials. Reporters from these outlets were denied access to the White House grounds over the weekend. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, names President Trump, White House communications director Steven Cheung, Secret Service Director Sean Curran, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles as defendants. The outlets argue that the ban is a direct violation of the First Amendment.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who previously ruled against the White House in a similar case involving CNN correspondent Jim Acosta, has been assigned to the case. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. President Trump, via Truth Social, expressed skepticism about the judge selection and indicated his administration would appeal any unfavorable ruling.
The TV network boycott was triggered when the White House declined to credential CNN on Monday, the day it was scheduled to staff the television pool. This pool provides video coverage of presidential events for wider distribution.
Despite the TV network boycott, print, radio, and wire journalists, along with still photographers and the White House's internal camera team, continue to cover the president's travel. President Trump has stated that "fake news" outlets are "very bad for the country, very bad for national security."