President Donald Trump on Thursday criticized ABC and NBC during his prime-time address, accusing the broadcast networks of refusing to air his speech because of its focus on election security and alleging they were helping to conceal problems with the nation's election system.
Speaking from the White House, Trump said the networks declined to carry his remarks after learning he would discuss newly declassified intelligence related to election vulnerabilities and alleged foreign interference.
"In a rare move, NBC and ABC Fake News have both said that they would not cover this speech," Trump said in a speech that aired live on Newsmax and the free Newsmax2 streaming platform. "They knew what it was about because of the fact that they don't like the topic, because they know how corrupt our system is, and they don't want to reveal it."
Trump broadened his criticism to "others in the media," alleging news organizations were helping shield election problems from the public.
"They and others in the media are part of a plot," Trump said. "They want to continue this fraud for whatever reason. They want to keep it going. They want to protect the radical left."
Trump also suggested broadcasters should face consequences for failing to cover issues involving election integrity.
"Fraud like this should mean a revocation of their licenses," Trump said. "They use our public multibillion-dollar-in-value airways for absolutely no money. They pay nothing. All we want is honesty in our elections and honesty in reporting."
ABC and NBC did not carry Trump's address live. CNN also did not air the speech, saying a live feed would be available on its website and its all-access streaming platform.
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., also criticized the networks' decision not to take Trump's speech live on their main channels.
"Some of the facts that will be revealed in President Trump's speech tonight are truly shocking," Schmitt, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, wrote on X. "If the networks were truly serving the public interest they would air it and as a country we would collectively resolve to take action."
Trump's remarks came as he announced the declassification of intelligence records that he said document foreign efforts to influence U.S. elections, vulnerabilities in election infrastructure, and alleged misconduct by intelligence officials.
He argued the disclosures underscore the need for stronger election security measures and urged Congress to pass the SAVE America Act.
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