Days after Donald Trump’s media ban sparked a revolt among the nation’s biggest networks, he launched Trump TV, prompting accusations of “state-run media” as his administration was accused of “literally shredding the Constitution.”
The escalating fight over who gets to cover the president started after Donald Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would no longer be allowed access to the White House, accusing the organizations of repeatedly producing negative and “fake” coverage.
Trump, who describes news coverage he does not like as a “threat to national security,” denied reporters from these outlets their position in the White House’s press pool.
These “third rate clowns,” he wrote in a Truth Social post, “purposefully distort, twist, and degrade with everything they write or publish.”
“Virtually every story about me, or anything having to do with me, is negative, wrong and, in many cases, DANGEROUS for our Country! No matter how GREAT my Achievements, they trivialize and demean,” he grumbled in his Sept. 21 post.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico saw things very differently, filing a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration on Sept. 21, and arguing that the government had retaliated against them because he “dislikes the content of their coverage of him and his administration,” according to the lawsuit shared by the New York Times.
Trump ‘does not decide’ what press reports
In a statement shared with People, the news outlets explained the lawsuit is “to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes.”
And then, the dispute quickly grew far beyond the three organizations Trump had targeted.
Media revolts
CNN was scheduled to provide the day’s television coverage as part of a rotation among the five major networks in the White House press pool. After the White House prevented CNN from carrying out that assignment, Fox News, ABC, CBS and NBC declined to step in and the television pool stood down.
“This follows the White House’s position preventing CNN from fulfilling its assigned pool duties,” Fox News DC bureau chief Bryan Boughton wrote in an email obtained by USA Today. “There will be no replacement pool put in place.”
The decision meant the usual shared television feed would not be available for many of Trump’s appearances – including one on the evening of Sept. 21, where the president introduced his new helipad at the White House. The event was then livestreamed by Trump’s press team, the poor audio drowning out the president’s speech as he cut the ribbon.
Trump TV
Responding to the media protest that same day, the administration launched “Trump TV: The Essentials Station,” a 24-hour streaming service on a YouTube page operated by the White House.
“Watch the Trump Administration’s biggest moments all in one place,” the White House said in its description of the station. “Top videos, major remarks, and must-see highlights streaming 24/7 and updated in real time. Stay informed and stay up to date!”
By Sept. 22, the channel was showing previous White House events featuring Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Its promotional video also incorporated clips from shows and movies including The Simpsons, Friends, Home Alone and SpongeBob SquarePants, although People reported that it was unclear whether permission had been obtained to use them.
‘Fascism is awesome’
The timing immediately fueled criticism over the prospect of Americans receiving presidential coverage directly from the administration at the same time independent news organizations were fighting restrictions on their access.
“State-run TV like Russia. Fascism is awesome!” one person wrote in the comment section of the White House announcement on X.
A second described it as “State-run media coming straight out of the authoritarian’s propaganda playbook.”
“Gross. Tune in to propaganda direct from The White House! We don’t like that the news sometimes doesn’t spread our propaganda correctly so get it straight from us!” another user shared, adding, “Lies in real time!”
One of the more striking reactions came from former U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, who defended the Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack.
“WTF: The White House is set to launch ‘TRUMP TV’…It will be official state-run media,” Gonell shared on X. “But look over there…the communist. Literally shredding the constitution.”
Vance says Trump’s ban on media is not a ban
The White House, meanwhile, has rejected the argument that its treatment of the three organizations violates press freedom, declaring in a statement that “White House access is a privilege – not a right.”
Vice President JD Vance offered a similar defense.
“He’s not banning media outlets. What he’s doing is saying we’re not going to give you special access to the White House if you engage in what is effectively propaganda,” JD Vance said of Trump’s ban on selected media outlets.
The vice-president added, “If you’re going to engage in what is effectively far-left propaganda, why would a Republican White House give you special access?”
What do you think of Trump banning news outlets from the White House and then launching what critics are calling “state-run media?” Before passing this story along, please let us know your thoughts!
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