Devastating humiliation served to Trump as TV networks snub speech — for these shows
Nicole Charky-Chami
July 16, 2026
RAW STORY
President Donald Trump waves aboard Marine One in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on July 15, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
President Donald Trump was served a heaping helping of humiliation ahead of his primetime address Thursday night, with several major broadcast networks snubbing the planned remarks in favor of a nature documentary and game show.
"NBC and ABC will not carry Trump on their respective networks but will carry on their digital feeds, NBC News Now and ABC News Live. Expect CBS to do the same," Wall Street Journal reporter Joe Flint reported on X, hours before the speech was to begin at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
It wasn't immediately known if CNN would also snub the address, Flint explained.
"But cable news can dip in and out and has a lot more freedom than a broadcast network that in theory needs to let affiliates know what's up and the producers of whatever show is airing etc etc," he posted.
The move comes as several networks were quiet about whether they would air the president's speech to the nation, which is expected to focus on elections, including his ongoing baseless fraud claims about the 2020 election. The time slot across networks continued to display "their standard scheduled content," with no indication that coverage would be interrupted for the presidential address.
NBC News, according to TV Insider, is scheduled to feature its series "The Americas," a nature documentary narrated by legendary actor Tom Hanks. This week's episode was set to focus on the Gulf Coast and its swamps and wetlands that are home to black bears and alligators.
The network said it planned to broadcast a special report following the address, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
ABC plans to air the Elizabeth Banks-hosted game show "Press Your Luck" during that hour, TV Insider reported.
President Donald Trump waves aboard Marine One in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on July 15, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
President Donald Trump was served a heaping helping of humiliation ahead of his primetime address Thursday night, with several major broadcast networks snubbing the planned remarks in favor of a nature documentary and game show.
"NBC and ABC will not carry Trump on their respective networks but will carry on their digital feeds, NBC News Now and ABC News Live. Expect CBS to do the same," Wall Street Journal reporter Joe Flint reported on X, hours before the speech was to begin at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
It wasn't immediately known if CNN would also snub the address, Flint explained.
"But cable news can dip in and out and has a lot more freedom than a broadcast network that in theory needs to let affiliates know what's up and the producers of whatever show is airing etc etc," he posted.
The move comes as several networks were quiet about whether they would air the president's speech to the nation, which is expected to focus on elections, including his ongoing baseless fraud claims about the 2020 election. The time slot across networks continued to display "their standard scheduled content," with no indication that coverage would be interrupted for the presidential address.
NBC News, according to TV Insider, is scheduled to feature its series "The Americas," a nature documentary narrated by legendary actor Tom Hanks. This week's episode was set to focus on the Gulf Coast and its swamps and wetlands that are home to black bears and alligators.
The network said it planned to broadcast a special report following the address, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
ABC plans to air the Elizabeth Banks-hosted game show "Press Your Luck" during that hour, TV Insider reported.
Nicole Charky-Chami
July 17, 2026
RAW STORY
President Donald Trump speaks about election security during an address to the nation from the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 16, 2026. SAUL LOEB/Pool via REUTERS
A top FCC official pushed back Friday on President Donald Trump's demand that the agency revoke the broadcast licenses of ABC and NBC after the networks refused to air his primetime address, according to reports.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the only Democrat on the FCC, made her position known in a post on X.
"It is ridiculous to call for broadcasters to lose their license simply for making the same editorial decisions they've made under presidents of both parties, especially when the remarks were still available to anyone who wanted to watch them online," Gomez wrote.
"The FCC has no authority to punish a station for refusing to air a blatantly political speech," she added. "This is a naked attempt to bully broadcasters, and the FCC should have no part in it."
Trump used his speech to advocate for his SAVE America Act ahead of the midterms, push claims about China's interference in U.S. elections and attack ABC and NBC for not airing his speech, Deadline reported.
In the past, networks have opted not to show addresses from other former presidents, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Media and political experts responded to Gomez's comments.
"Brutal response," Scott MacFarlane, chief Washington correspondent for MeidasTouch, wrote on X.
"The networks didn't carry two Jimmy Carter addresses," Wall Street Journal media reporter Joe Flint wrote on X.
"A lot of people don't understand the First Amendment, or editorial independence, and for the record the speech was available to anyone who wanted to watch or listen to it," Robert Lang, WBAL NewsRadio reporter and anchor, wrote on X.
President Donald Trump speaks about election security during an address to the nation from the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 16, 2026. SAUL LOEB/Pool via REUTERS
A top FCC official pushed back Friday on President Donald Trump's demand that the agency revoke the broadcast licenses of ABC and NBC after the networks refused to air his primetime address, according to reports.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the only Democrat on the FCC, made her position known in a post on X.
"It is ridiculous to call for broadcasters to lose their license simply for making the same editorial decisions they've made under presidents of both parties, especially when the remarks were still available to anyone who wanted to watch them online," Gomez wrote.
"The FCC has no authority to punish a station for refusing to air a blatantly political speech," she added. "This is a naked attempt to bully broadcasters, and the FCC should have no part in it."
Trump used his speech to advocate for his SAVE America Act ahead of the midterms, push claims about China's interference in U.S. elections and attack ABC and NBC for not airing his speech, Deadline reported.
In the past, networks have opted not to show addresses from other former presidents, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Media and political experts responded to Gomez's comments.
"Brutal response," Scott MacFarlane, chief Washington correspondent for MeidasTouch, wrote on X.
"The networks didn't carry two Jimmy Carter addresses," Wall Street Journal media reporter Joe Flint wrote on X.
"A lot of people don't understand the First Amendment, or editorial independence, and for the record the speech was available to anyone who wanted to watch or listen to it," Robert Lang, WBAL NewsRadio reporter and anchor, wrote on X.
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