The White House said its app topped the App Store’s news chart Tuesday, a day after Trump TV debuted on YouTube, then fell to No. 2 Wednesday evening. CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued to regain White House access; a judge heard arguments Wednesday but did not rule.
The app launched in May; the White House says it has a 4.9/5 App Store rating and more than 2 million downloads across the App Store and Google Play. Trump TV, labeled “The Essentials Station,” features videos of Trump and his administration, remarks and selected highlights around the clock, but does not necessarily mirror the White House’s live schedule. Asked for Trump TV viewership figures, the White House referred Newsweek to an app-performance release, while YouTube referred the outlet to the White House for analytics.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico argued the ban violated their First Amendment rights. The Justice Department’s filing says White House access is a privilege, not a right, and that Trump concluded the outlets failed basic professionalism and decorum standards, including by publishing sensitive or classified information. The administration also cited national security concerns.
