‘Trump TV’ Promo Uses Clips From ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Friends,’ ‘The Dark Knight’ & Many More
Donald Trump has defied copyright complaints from Neil Young, Ariana Grande, Beyoncé and everyone in between for unauthorized use of their music. Today, it posted a promo video for Trump TV that made use of footage from Friends, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Home Alone, Modern Family, Breaking Bad, The Dark Knight and more.
Among the studios and networks whose IP is used in the promo are Warner Bros., ABC, Fox, Sony Pictures Television, Disney and NBCUniversal. It’s not a terribly unusual move for the president, who routinely posts AI videos that lift scenes from hit films like Top Gun. It is, however, somewhat unique in its breadth. And perhaps that is the point.
Trump TV is a promotional effort launched after the president banned Politico, CNN and MS Now from the White House. The administration billed it “The Essentials Station.” Another (grammatically-challenged) administration pitch for the service was, “Not every big moment has made it on your tv, now it can.” The service provides a live feed of official events, seemingly without the razzle dazzle of which the president is so fond. The New York Times dubbed it “essentially a form of state television.”
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 21, 2026IT'S LIVE. 📺🦅
TRUMP TV IS STREAMING NOW. 24/7, updated in real time, with top past moments, announcements, and the latest and greatest from the administration all in one place.
Not every big moment has made it on your tv, now it can.
The advent of Trump TV comes after the president denied Politico, CNN and MS Now access to the White House over the weekend, prompting outcry from other media and a lawsuit from the trio.
CNN had the White House pool assignment for Monday and was scheduled to be the primary network for coverage. The other TV networks declined to replace CNN in protest of the move, and as a result, there was no TV pool on a day when Trump is traveled to New York. Trump TV, it would seem, is a response to that.
The lack of network-level production is apparent. Video posted this weekend includes a long, very unTrumpy nine-minute recount of a ribbon cutting. It includes long takes of the president shaking hands with attendees before proceeding to make his remarks. Those, however, are drowned out by the engines of Marine One in the background.
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