Donald Trump’s 24-hour YouTube channel drew about 8,500 viewers at Monday’s launch, but The Daily Beast recorded 427 early Wednesday. Reviewers questioned its purpose; The Bulwark’s Brendan Hartnett called its content “political ephemera,” not really news.
Newsweek’s Daniel Orton and Amanda Castro described the stream as a constantly shuffled White House playlist of old speeches, policy announcements, promotional videos and administration appearances. They said it has no anchors, interviews or reporters probing the claims presented.
The channel’s YouTube description promises the administration’s “biggest moments all in one place.” Its launch came amid Trump’s decision to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the channel “state-run TV,” while the Lincoln Project described it as “state-run media.”
