The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Reuters has reported that two of the three major U.S. television networks, ABC and NBC, along with CNN, did not broadcast President Donald Trump's prime-time speech live on their primary television channels, prompting criticism from the president.
According to Reuters, Trump's address focused primarily on election security, less than four months before the U.S. midterm elections. During the speech, he accused the networks of participating in what he described as a "plot" against him and said broadcasters that declined to air the address should have their licenses revoked.
Reuters reported that ABC News instead streamed the speech on its ABC News Live platform and broadcast it on ABC News Radio, while NBC carried the address on its NBC News NOW streaming service rather than its main broadcast network. CNN provided a live feed on its website and subscription streaming service but did not interrupt its main cable programming.
Media experts told Reuters that U.S. broadcasters have broad protections under the First Amendment to decide what they air, although major presidential addresses have traditionally been carried live because they are considered matters of public interest.
During the speech, Trump said he had declassified intelligence that he claimed showed Chinese interference in U.S. elections, reviving allegations about election security despite previous U.S. intelligence assessments that found no evidence China altered the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
Reuters reported that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had said before the speech that Trump might also discuss Iran and the U.S. economy. Although the president briefly addressed the conflict involving Iran and praised the U.S. economy, the speech largely centered on his claims about election security.
According to Reuters, some Democratic lawmakers, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, had urged television networks not to air the speech, arguing that Trump was likely to repeat election claims that have previously been rejected by U.S. courts and election officials.
