What We Know About Trump's New 'Trump TV' Streaming Channel

Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump's administration launched a 24/7 streaming channel called Trump TV on Monday evening, hours after the five networks that supply pooled White House video suspended that service, according to the New York Post.

What Is Trump TV and When Did It Launch?

The White House announced the channel Monday night, describing it as "essential" viewing. "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," the administration wrote, per the Post. The first broadcast was footage of a July 3 speech Trump delivered at Mount Rushmore.

Why Did the Major Networks Boycott White House Events?

CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox News — the five outlets that form the White House television pool and distribute footage of presidential events to the rest of the press corps worldwide — announced they were suspending that pool service until further notice. The networks cited the White House's decision to ban CNN, MSNow and Politico from certain access, according to the Post's report.

What Did the Networks Say in Their Joint Statement?

The five pool members — ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News Media and NBC News — issued a joint statement defending the arrangement: "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."

What Happened at the Helipad Ceremony?

The dispute became visible Monday afternoon when the major networks did not air Trump's ribbon-cutting for a new presidential helipad, held before he left for a two-day trip to New York. The White House streamed the event on its own social media channels instead. Marine One sat on the helipad behind the president with its engine running during the ceremony, the Post reported — an image otherwise unseen on broadcast television because the pool feed was dark.

Two Numbers to Know

• Five — the number of networks (CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox News) that jointly suspended the White House pool feed.
• 24/7 — how the administration describes Trump TV's streaming schedule, launched Monday evening.

What to Watch Next

• Whether CNN, MSNow or Politico regain the access that triggered the networks' suspension.
• Whether other administration events — beyond the helipad ceremony — go uncovered by traditional broadcast pool footage.
• Whether any of the five networks break from the joint statement and resume pool coverage independently.
• How much of Trump TV's programming consists of live events versus archival clips like the July 3 Mount Rushmore speech.

The standoff, per the Post, capped what it called a day of escalating fights between the White House and the media with no resolution announced by either side as of Monday evening.

Read the original report at the New York Post.