Trump TV Disaster Deepens After Nightmare Debut

Evelyn Hockstein / REUTERS Donald Trump’s 24/7 “TV” channel has lost almost 95 percent of its already meager viewership in a humiliating disaster for the president.

The 80-year-old former reality TV star, who has declared himself “the king of ratings,” might need to think of a new name just two days after he launched “Trump TV: The Essentials Station,” a 24-hour YouTube livestream on the existing White House channel.

The stream follows his ban of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House on Friday.

America’s major TV networks—NBC, ABC, CBS, and even Fox News—suspended their pooled coverage of Trump on Monday in solidarity.

The same day, the White House announced the stream, where viewers can “watch the Trump Administration’s biggest moments all in one place.” It opened to a paltry 8,000 viewers, peaked at 8,500, then collapsed by more than half just 90 minutes later and cratered below 1,000 by 6 a.m. on Tuesday, as the morning news shows it was supposed to contend with got underway.

By 9.30 a.m., as Trump prepared to address the United Nations General Assembly, it had rallied to around 1,700, but viewership generally has been unflattering to the ratings-obsessed president.

It got even worse on Wednesday morning.

The Daily Beast recorded an astonishing low of 427 viewers at around 7 a.m., down by about half from the same period 24 hours earlier and down a staggering 94.98 percent from its opening high.

The humble viewership is perhaps no surprise.

The White House has promised a lot but has delivered little so far.

“Top videos, major remarks, and must-see highlights streaming 24/7 and updated in real time.

Stay informed and stay up to date!” a statement announcing the stream read.

However, so far it has shown only reruns of old speeches and engagements.

At the time of writing, it is broadcasting Trump’s dinner with Britain’s King Charles, which happened a year ago.