Tuesday, September 22, 2026

TWH Launches Trump TV


The White House launched “TRUMP TV: The Essentials Station,” a 24/7 YouTube livestream of the administration’s selected speeches, announcements and past highlights, on Monday night after major U.S. television networks suspended their shared White House pool coverage. 

The stream, also promoted through the White House app, opened with archived footage of President Donald Trump’s July 3 speech at Mount Rushmore and later played his 2025 inauguration.  The official White House account billed it as “top past moments, announcements, and the latest and greatest from the administration all in one place.” 



The launch followed Trump’s Friday order barring CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds over what he called “fake news.” Reporters from those outlets were turned away Saturday and had credentials revoked. CNN had been scheduled to serve as the rotating television pool crew Monday; the White House omitted it from daily guidance. 

ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News then refused to replace CNN. Fox News Washington bureau chief Bryan Boughton, the pool chair, told members there would be “no replacement pool” for presidential events. The five networks said in a joint statement that “no administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.” 

Without the traditional pool cameras and boom microphones, the administration’s own feed of Monday’s White House helipad ribbon-cutting left Trump’s remarks largely inaudible over helicopter noise. The networks’ boycott also left his United Nations trip without the usual shared television coverage. 

CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued the administration Monday, arguing the ban violated the First Amendment; a hearing was set for Wednesday. Trump said on Truth Social the ban was not an assault on the free press but on “fake news.” The White House said the First Amendment does not guarantee a press pass, briefing-room seat or pool slot. Spokesperson Kaelan Dorr described Trump TV as “a livestream of the Administration’s greatest hits, unfiltered,” arguing mainstream outlets had underplayed or misreported accomplishments. 


Critics, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and several journalists, called the channel “state-run media” or propaganda, saying it was meant to replace independent coverage after access restrictions. Early viewership on the White House YouTube channel, which has about 3.15 million subscribers, was in the low thousands after the first hour.
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