New York • Television networks are facing unusual pressure surrounding their responsibility to point out false or misleading statements after granting President Donald Trump’s request to air his Oval Office speech on the proposed border wall and partial government shutdown.
The four largest broadcast networks and top cable news networks agreed to carry Trump's speech and the Democratic response, which will be offered by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
It's rare, but not unprecedented, for networks to say no to a presidential request for airtime. Some of the president's opponents had argued that Trump shouldn't get the airtime because he couldn't be trusted to tell the truth.