The White House on Monday launched ‘TRUMP TV: The Essentials Station’, a 24/7 digital video stream featuring administration announcements, presidential remarks and other content, as the Trump administration faces a legal challenge from CNN, MS NOW and Politico over their exclusion from the White House.The White House said the new service would bring the administration’s “biggest moments” together in one place, with content updated in real time. The stream was launched on the White House’s YouTube channel at 7 pm ET on Monday.The launch came hours after CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking to restore their access to the White House. The organisations argue that the administration’s decision to revoke their journalists’ credentials violates their First Amendment rights.Trump had barred the three outlets from the White House after criticising their coverage. Their reporters were denied entry to the White House grounds on Saturday and had their press credentials confiscated, according to the organisations.CNN was also removed from its scheduled television pool duties. ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC subsequently joined CNN in suspending their participation in the White House television pool after CNN was removed from a scheduled assignment.The television pool normally provides shared video coverage of presidential events to broadcasters and other news organisations. With the pool disrupted, the White House’s own video feed has become a more prominent source of footage from presidential events.Trump on Monday sharply criticised the three organisations in a social media post after they sued his administration.“As expected, Fake News CNN, Politico (Pay back the 8 Million Dollar contribution made by the U.S. Government to keep them afloat!), and MSNOW (formerly known as MSDNC!), have brought suit to gain access to the White House, and your President, ME! They have drawn a great Judge, for them, a man who ruled in favor of Jim Acosta, who now seems to have disappeared from the Planet. The Judge’s name is Tim Kelly, and he was, sadly, appointed by “TRUMP.” In other words, almost without question and, as usual, we’ll go for appeal because Fake News people and publications that only write negatively, and who violate our National Security by writing false and defamatory stories with unknown “sources,” shouldn’t be allowed access to the most important Office anywhere in the World. It is called the Oval Office, and it should be treated with Decorum, Respect, and Dignity, not defiled by Third Rate Clowns, who 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. The fact is, I won all seven Swing States, the Popular Vote, the Electoral College (312 to 226), and the Counties throughout America by 86%, and yet it is reported that I get 94% bad publicity. With such a Crooked and Corrupt Press, how did I win in such a LANDSLIDE? It is because the Media has NO credibility, and that is a very bad thing for our Nation! Why should I have to give “access” to such people? Perhaps Judge Kelly could explain that! In any event, I have an obligation to fight for the Success and Safety of our Country. FAKE NEWS IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, and I will do whatever is necessary to make sure that the U.S.A. thrives.”The three organisations said their lawsuit was intended to defend their First Amendment rights and the principle that the government should not decide what the press reports.“This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes,” the outlets said in a joint statement.The case has been assigned to US District Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed by Trump during his first term. Kelly previously handled CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s legal challenge after the White House revoked his press access in 2018.CNN, MS NOW and Politico have asked the court to restore their access while the case proceeds. A hearing on their request is scheduled for Wednesday.The dispute centres on whether the administration can restrict journalists’ access to the White House based on objections to their reporting. The organisations have argued that their credentials were revoked without notice or a process to challenge the decision.The launch of TRUMP TV adds a new element to the dispute, giving the administration a dedicated digital platform to distribute its own footage and announcements at a time when traditional White House television pool coverage has been disrupted.The White House has described the platform as an “essentials station”, featuring top videos, major remarks and highlights from the administration.
