1 hr ago
White House Launches Trump TV Amid Escalating Press Access Fight
The White House created a new online channel called “Trump TV.”
It shows speeches, announcements and other videos about President Donald Trump and his administration.
The channel runs all day and all night on YouTube.
At the same time, the White House stopped reporters from CNN, Politico and MS NOW from entering.
Those news organizations went to court and said the ban is unconstitutional.
The White House says the First Amendment lets the outlets publish stories but does not guarantee them access to the White House.
Five television networks then stopped sharing their usual live video feed of presidential events.
A judge is expected to consider the news organizations’ request for access while the case continues.
The White House launched “Trump TV,” a 24/7 YouTube stream featuring Trump speeches, administration announcements and past presidential footage.
CNN, Politico and MS NOW sued the Trump administration after their White House press access was revoked.
ABC, CBS, Fox News, NBC and CNN suspended the presidential television pool after CNN was blocked from its scheduled assignment.
The White House says press access is not guaranteed by the First Amendment and accuses the outlets of unfair or false reporting.
The outlets argue the restrictions violate First Amendment and due-process protections; a federal hearing on emergency relief is scheduled for Wednesday.
- Who
- The White House, President Donald Trump, CNN, Politico, MS NOW, and the five networks in the presidential television pool.
- What
- The White House launched a 24/7 “Trump TV” stream while three news organizations challenged revoked press access in federal court and television networks suspended shared presidential-event coverage.
- Where
- The stream is carried on the White House’s YouTube channel; the lawsuit is before a federal court in Washington, DC.
- When
- The stream launched on Monday; the lawsuit was filed the same day, and a hearing on emergency relief is scheduled for Wednesday.
- Why
- The White House says it is providing presidential and administration content and defending restrictions against outlets it considers unfair or inaccurate; the news organizations say the restrictions violate press freedom and due process.
News Organizations
White House
Press access
News Organizations
CNN, Politico and MS NOW argue that the government cannot exclude their journalists because it objects to their reporting.
White House
The White House says the First Amendment protects publication but does not automatically guarantee access to White House grounds, briefing-room seats or the presidential press pool.
Reason for the restrictions
News Organizations
The outlets say their credentials were revoked without notice or due process and describe the action as government interference with independent journalism.
White House
President Donald Trump says the outlets have an obligation to report fairly and has accused them of publishing “fake news” and false or defamatory reports.
Television coverage
News Organizations
The five pool members say the public needs accurate, independent information and suspended presidential pool coverage in solidarity with CNN.
White House
The White House launched its own continuous stream, offering administration-produced footage while the normal shared television feed was unavailable.
Key facts
- New service
- “TRUMP TV: The Essentials Station,” a 24/7 stream on the White House’s YouTube channel.
- Content
- Past Trump speeches, administration announcements, presidential highlights and real-time updates.
- Press outlets suing
- CNN, Politico and MS NOW.
- Television pool members
- ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, NBC News and CNN.
- Pool status
- Shared television coverage of presidential events was suspended after CNN was prevented from completing its scheduled assignment.
- Legal claims
- The three news organizations allege violations of First Amendment and Fifth Amendment due-process protections.
- Upcoming hearing
- A federal court hearing on the request for emergency relief is scheduled for Wednesday.
Quotes
The five White House television pool members
ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, NBC News and CNN
“IT'S LIVE. TRUMP TV IS STREAMING NOW. 24/7, updated in real time, with top past moments, announcements, and the latest and greatest from the administration all in one place. Not every big moment has made it on your tv, now it can.”
livemint.com
thestatesman.com
“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.”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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