"Trump TV" launched on Monday, just days after the president banned three major news agencies from the White House. What content is hosted on the new streaming service, and why is the media crying foul? Here is the latest on the contention between the Trump administration and the press.

White House Launches Trump TV Streaming Channel

President Donald Trump unveiled his new streaming news station on Monday. The aptly named Trump TV was launched using clips from several television shows and movies, including "The Simpsons," "Friends," "Family Guy," "Home Alone," and "SpongeBob SquarePants." A description posted on the White House YouTube page said, “Watch the Trump Administration’s biggest moments all in one place. Top videos, major remarks, and must-see highlights streaming 24/7 and updated in real time. Stay informed and stay up to date!”

The service was streaming old White House events on Tuesday, focused on footage surrounding major speeches by Trump and Vice President JD Vance, as well as other archived events. For example, Trump's Independence Day address at Mount Rushmore was part of the content.

The continuous 24/7 digital stream debuted on Monday at 7 pm ET. While the platform is allegedly going to feature live current events, there has been little coverage of this thus far.

According to Kaelan Dorr, deputy assistant to the president, "Trump TV is a 24/7 livestream of the Administration's greatest hits, unfiltered."

Daily Beast reported that 8,500 viewers tuned in to watch the stream during the first hour on Monday. Only 1,200 viewers were logged in watching on Tuesday afternoon, according to Axios.

It is notable that while Trump was addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday morning, Trump TV was airing a past presidential speech from the National Prayer Breakfast. Tuesday's stream did air live coverage of Vance's briefing on fraud claims.

Timing of Trump TV Comes on Heels of Major Press Controversy

The launch of the service is curious, coming just three days after the president said that he was banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from covering the White House. Trump also warned the media that he would ban other "fake news" outlets.

The firestorm began last Friday when Trump took to social media to say, “I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MS NOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico […] from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!”

The president went on to say that “Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

The next day, reporters from all three agencies confirmed that they had been prohibited from entering the White House grounds for their usual coverage duties. MS NOW and Politico said that their press passes were confiscated when they reported to work.

Trump did not point to a specific instance that led to the decision to ban the three major outlets. Instead, he only told reporters that “It’s really just cumulative stories over the last few years. You get sick of it. They’re smart people, but they purposely write negative news." He did not offer any evidence of what he deemed to be "negative news."

After a quiet weekend, the three banned outlets issued a joint statement detailing that they are filing a lawsuit alleging that their First Amendment rights were not protected. The trio wrote on Monday that “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 group warned that the Trump administration could continue to "threaten press freedom" if the ban was not challenged.

Just a few hours later, NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox News announced that they were voluntarily pulling out of covering White House pool duties in support of the three banned outlets. Without the coverage of the five major White House press team outlets, the media had to lean on an internal White House video feed to cover the president.

In addition to the decision by the press pool to suspend coverage of the president, the Associated Press, the New York Times, and Agence France-Presse intentionally did not publish photos of the president on Monday as a way to show solidarity for the banned agencies.

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