Trump administration to welcome up to 17,500 more White South Africans as refugees

The White House inaugurated its own online streaming channel, aptly named "Trump TV," on Monday as tensions between the administration and major US media outlets intensified. This development follows President Donald Trump's decision to bar journalists from three prominent news organizations—CNN, MSNBC, and Politico—from the White House premises. The dispute arose after Trump accused these outlets of disseminating false information.

The newly launched channel debuted initially with speeches delivered by Trump and footage of US military exercises, accompanied by commentary that extolled the armed forces' capabilities. The White House announced that the stream would be available 24/7, showcasing past moments, announcements, and the latest updates from the administration in a consolidated platform. However, it is important to note that no original productions or journalistic programming were initially broadcasted.

The White House's move to establish Trump TV is not unprecedented, as the administration had been providing a livestream of Trump's appearances for some time. The launch of the new channel comes in the wake of Trump's announcement on Friday revoking White House access for journalists from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico. This escalation in the ongoing conflict with the media has been met with criticism, with the three news organizations filing a lawsuit against the administration.

They argue that the White House's actions potentially undermine press freedom and infringe upon the public's right to independent journalism, free from government interference.

In response to the media's actions, several major US broadcasters have scaled back their coverage of the president. The New York Times and the Washington Post, in particular, reduced their photo coverage of Trump on Monday in protest. This decision had an immediate impact, as Trump's speech at a press event on Monday could not be heard on the White House livestream due to the absence of journalists from the major outlets, who were not present with their own cameras and microphones, unlike what is customary.