President Trump's prime-time address Thursday will bypass live television at two of the four major broadcast networks, forcing ABC and NBC to route the speech through streaming platforms instead of traditional airwaves.
NBC News said it would carry the remarks live on NBC News NOW, its streaming service, followed by a special report on the main network. ABC plans to air the speech on ABC News Live, its 24/7 news channel, with anchored analysis on ABC News Radio and in regular newscasts. The network said it stands ready to interrupt regular programming if significant developments emerge during the address.
CBS and FOX have not yet disclosed their coverage plans.
Trump has teased major news in the 9pm ET speech, with indications the focus will center on election security and what he calls "free and fair elections." The speech puts broadcasters in a difficult position: airing potentially disputed claims about the 2020 election versus facing pushback from the White House and regulatory pressure from the Federal Communications Commission.
The decision reflects a broader pattern. In 2022, ABC, CBS, and NBC all declined to air President Biden's address on threats to democracy, which included sharp criticism of Trump and those who denied the 2020 election results. Networks cited concerns that the speech functioned more as a midterm campaign message for Democrats than as an urgent update to the nation.
Broadcasters have long reserved the right to make editorial judgments about whether to air presidential addresses, regardless of party affiliation. The decision to stream rather than broadcast represents an attempt to balance distribution with editorial responsibility, allowing interested viewers to watch while avoiding prime-time placement on networks with mass audiences.
Author James Rodriguez: "Networks wrestling with live Trump coverage shows how broken the relationship between media and presidency has become on both sides."
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