Donald Trump’s new 24-hour YouTube channel is already drawing sharp criticism. Its audience numbers also remain strikingly small. The White House-backed stream has struggled to attract viewers since launching, with critics questioning what exactly the new outlet is supposed to deliver. This comes amid Trump’s media ban affecting Politico, CNN, and MS NOW.
Critics react to Donald Trump’s latest media venture
The Bulwark’s Brendan Hartnett spent six hours watching Trump TV and came away unconvinced that it serves a clear purpose. He argued that Donald Trump’s staff created the channel in an improvised attempt to address a problem, while making it appear as though a larger strategy exists. Hartnett also said the “product isn’t news, really. It’s political ephemera.”
Newsweek’s Daniel Orton and Amanda Castro reached a similar conclusion after watching the channel for much of a day. They described it as a constantly “shuffled White House playlist” filled with old speeches, policy announcements, promotional videos, and administration appearances. Their review pointed out that there are no anchors, interviews, or reporters probing the claims being presented on Trump TV.
The numbers offer another headache. Trump TV reached roughly 8,500 viewers during its Monday launch, but The Daily Beast recorded only 427 viewers early Wednesday. Much of the stream consists of older Trump appearances, including his dinner with Britain’s King Charles and campaign rallies from previous years. Its YouTube description promises viewers the administration’s “biggest moments all in one place.”
The launch also arrived amid Trump’s decision to bar CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. That move became part of the criticism surrounding the new channel, with several political figures and groups questioning its purpose. California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on X that Trump was creating what he called “state-run TV,” while commentator Dean Withers compared the venture to North Korean television.
The Lincoln Project also weighed in on X, describing Trump TV as “state-run media” and calling Trump a communist.
