The White House has launched a new online television channel that broadcasts 24 hours a day, called "Trump TV: The Essentials Station," at a time when the Donald Trump administration's clash with the American media has entered a new phase.
The service launched on Monday, September 21, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The White House is pitching it as a way to follow the Trump administration's speeches, announcements, and key moments in one place.
The first broadcast included a speech by President Trump at Mount Rushmore. Deputy Assistant to the President Kaelan Dorr described the X Network channel as a “no-filter” broadcast of the administration’s most important moments.
The launch of Trump TV comes just days after Trump banned journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, accusing the outlets of false and negative reporting on his administration.
On Monday, the three media organizations filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Trump administration. CNN, MS NOW and Politico argue that the decision to strip them of access to the White House violates their First Amendment rights and are seeking to have access restored.
The clash has also affected the traditional way of television coverage of the US president. After CNN was banned, other major television networks decided to suspend their participation in the joint system of broadcasting presidential activities, rather than replace CNN in its duties.
This system, known as a "press pool," allows television networks to share footage of the president's activities among themselves and distribute them to other media organizations. The crisis in recent days has led to some of Trump's activities being covered directly by the White House itself, including broadcasts published on the administration's official channels.
In this climate, the creation of “Trump TV” has drawn strong reactions from critics and media organizations. Some have described the service as a form of government-controlled media, while the Trump administration presents it as a direct channel for the public, through which the president’s activities and statements can be viewed without the mediation of traditional media.
