In a surprising move, major television networks such as ABC and NBC have opted not to broadcast President Donald Trump’s much-anticipated address. This speech is expected to cover key issues facing his administration and his views on election fraud.
While the White House has offered various hints about the purpose of Thursday’s speech, insiders revealed to Reuters on Wednesday that Trump might address potential Chinese interference in the 2020 presidential election.
“It’s really big news. Our country has to shape up. It doesn’t get bigger, because without free and fair elections you don’t have a country. It’s going to be a very big announcement,” Trump remarked to reporters at the White House earlier this week.
ABC confirmed through a statement to various media outlets that the president’s speech would be available via live streaming on its dedicated digital platforms, rather than through its prime-time cable broadcast.
“We will also cover the speech in our regular network newscasts and, as always, our Special Report team is fully prepared to break into network programming to deliver live updates and reporting should significant developments occur,” the network stated, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter.
NBC has also opted to air Trump’s remarks on its free streaming service, NBC News Now, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to Reuters.
Spokespeople for CBS News and Fox News have not announced whether they will air Trump’s speech on their prime-time channels.
CNN told the Hollywood Reporter that the network planned to cover the president’s speech ‘as a news event, and monitor it for news developments, providing analysis and commentary from CNN experts who cover elections, intelligence and the FBI.’
Trump is prepared to address the nation on Thursday night, but the speech will not be broadcast live on multiple prime-time cable news networks
NBC News will not air the president’s address on its prime-time channel, but will instead stream it on NBC News Now
ABC News said in a statement that Trump’s speech would air on its streaming channels, but anchors would be ready for special coverage
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr encouraged all stations to air the president’s remarks during a NewsNation interview on Wednesday.
‘This is something that the American people have every right to be able to get over the airwaves,’ he added.
When asked about the speech at Thursday’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt encouraged networks to air the speech live.
She added that it was ‘also very possible’ that Trump would update the nation on the war in Iran and the economy.
Trump addressed the country earlier this year about the Iran war, which prime-time networks aired live.
However, it is not unprecedented for major news networks not to air every presidential address.
Presidents George W Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden have all had requests denied to air remarks live on news stations.
Trump’s speech may also come with political and legal concerns for the networks. Fox News shelled out $787 million in 2023 after it was accused of airing false claims about election interference.
Trump previously addressed the nation in a live speech on April 1 to discuss the conflict in the Middle East
Former President Barack Obama also previously had requests to air live remarks denied. He’s pictured above addressing the nation in 2010 about the end of the Iraq War
Former President Joe Biden also had requests to air speeches denied. He’s pictured above addressing the nation in July 2024 after Trump’s assassination attempt in Pennsylvania
Trump has long spread conspiracy theories that his loss to Biden in 2020 was a result of a stolen election.
His claims have gained traction among his MAGA allies; however, multiple state audits and investigations have proven that Biden rightfully won the presidential election.
Trump had previously claimed that voting machine technology was used to flip votes in key swing states in favor of Biden.
Sidney Powell, one of Trump’s lawyers, filed four lawsuits asserting the claim, but none gained traction.
The president has also claimed that foreign agents in Venezuela and China. A voting technology company was also accused of election interference by Trump and his allies because its founders were born in Venezuela.
The company has repeatedly denied the allegations, and concrete evidence to support the interference claim has not been presented.
Trump will reveal the news during his live remarks at 9pm EST. Ahead of the speech, the White House posted on X: ‘Defending America’s election integrity is paramount.’