2019 Oval Office address
On January 8, 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump delivered an address on immigration from the White House's Oval Office, in Washington, D.C. Major television networks broadcast the president's speech as well as the Democratic response.[1][2]
Trump advocated for funding for the construction of more barrier at the Mexico–United States border from Congress, the key issue of the ongoing partial federal government shutdown.[3][4] The address, which was not expected to exceed eight minutes,[5] was Trump's first to be televised from the Oval Office.[6]
Trump's administration requested airtime from the networks one day in advance.[6][7] Trump then announced, via Twitter; "I am pleased to inform you that I will Address the Nation on the Humanitarian and National Security crisis on our Southern Border. Tuesday night at 9:00 P.M. Eastern".[5][8]
Democratic response
Leaders of the Democratic Party requested equal airtime.[9] House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer delivered responses to Trump's speech.[10]
The Democratic response drew a slightly larger audience than Trump's speech, according to The Hollywood Reporter.[11]
Timing
The speech occurred on the 17th day of a United States federal government shutdown.
Network coverage
The speech was carried live by the major over-the-air and cable news networks in the U.S.,[7] eliciting criticism for the mass media's treatment of President Trump.[6][12] It was compared to a November 2014 speech on immigration by President Barack Obama that several networks declined to air due to its political nature.[12][13][14]
See also
References
- ^ Smith, Allan (January 8, 2019). "Major networks will carry Democratic response to Trump immigration speech". NBC News. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ Stelter, Brian; Darcy, Oliver (January 7, 2019). "Networks set to air Trump's prime time address; Pelosi, Schumer demand equal time". CNN. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ "Government shutdown: Trump appeals to US TV audience over wall". BBC News. January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ Bradley, Laura (January 8, 2019). "Networks Will Air Trump's Surely Inflammatory Immigration Speech . . . Why?". Vanity Fair. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ a b Barr, Jeremy (January 7, 2019). "Broadcast Networks Deliberate, Then Decide to Carry Trump's Border Speech". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ a b c Stelter, Brian (January 8, 2019). "Trump's border address sparks extraordinary debate inside and outside TV networks". CNN. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ a b Wemple, Erik (January 8, 2019). "Collusion! Networks miraculously come to same conclusion on Trump speech". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ Bardella, Kurt (January 7, 2019). "News networks should not air Trump Wall speech without fact-checking first". USA Today. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ Golshan, Tara (January 8, 2019). "Democratic leaders call for equal airtime to rebut Trump's immigration speech". Vox. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ "Pelosi and Schumer Will Deliver Democratic Response to Trump's Speech". The New York Times. January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ "TV Ratings: Democrats' Response to Trump Speech Outdraws President in Early Numbers". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
- ^ a b Nakamura, David (January 8, 2019). "Three presidents, three speeches — and an immigration debate that has grown coarser". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ Nover, Scott (January 8, 2019). "There's No Winning for the Networks". The Atlantic. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ Yglesias, Matthew (January 7, 2019). "Networks giving Trump free airtime on Tuesday refused to air Obama's 2014 immigration speech". Vox. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
External links
- Trump, Donald J. "President Donald J. Trump Calls on Congress to Secure our Borders and Protect the America People". The White House.
