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 ...