Major networks just made a bold call on the president’s primetime speech. Several major outlets made surprising decisions ahead of Donald Trump’s planned primetime address to the nation on Thursday evening.
ABC and NBC move Trump address to streaming, CNN skips cable feed
ABC News, NBC News and CNN announced they will skip airing Donald Trump’s primetime speech on their traditional television channels, Deadline reported. All three networks chose to redirect coverage to their streaming platforms instead. ABC News Live, NBC News Now and CNN.com will carry the address, which was set for 9 p.m. ET Thursday.
The speech reportedly centers on intelligence findings related to the 2020 presidential election. Trump also intends to advocate for the SAVE America Act during the address. Reports suggesting he would revisit stolen election narratives complicated network decisions about live coverage.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stood behind the planned remarks at a Thursday press briefing. “It will shock you if you have an honest eye listening to the president tonight,” she told reporters. She also insisted that “everything he is saying will be backed by facts and evidence.” Leavitt specifically called on CBS to broadcast the speech during the same briefing.
NBC News said it would run a special report on the broadcast network once the speech wraps up. ABC News indicated it would track the address and potentially interrupt programming for breaking developments. A CNN spokesperson confirmed the network “will cover the president’s speech as a news event.” CNN also pledged to deliver “analysis and commentary from CNN experts who cover elections, intelligence and the FBI.”
Networks previously aired Trump’s April 1 primetime speech addressing the war in Iran. His July 4 National Mall appearance, however, did not receive broadcast treatment since it functioned as a rally. Broadcast networks have historically declined certain presidential primetime requests across multiple administrations.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the planned address bluntly on Thursday. “Something is really wrong with this guy,” Jeffries stated to reporters. Democrats have framed the SAVE America Act as a suppression effort requiring birth certificates or passports for voter registration.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Comingsoon.net.
