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White House App Hits No. 1 as Trump TV Launches Amid Press Ban

The surge follows the launch of a new streaming network and comes as three outlets challenge their White House access in court.

The White House app surged to the top of the App Store's news category just a day after the launch of Trump TV, according to a White House statement. President Donald Trump had previously barred CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House after the three networks refused access. The White House app aims to provide news without the filters typically applied by mainstream networks.

The app, which debuted in May, now has over 2 million downloads and a 4.9-star rating. Trump TV, dubbed "The Essentials Station," showcases videos of President Trump and the administration's key moments. As of Wednesday, the app dropped to No. 2 in the news category. The launch of Trump TV coincides with the ongoing conflict between the administration and the White House press corps.

A federal lawsuit by CNN, MSNBC, and Politico seeks to restore their access to the White House, arguing that the ban violates their First Amendment rights. The administration maintains that access is a privilege, not a right.

Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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