A senior White House official has publicly criticised major American broadcast and cable news networks for refusing to display a set of PowerPoint slides prepared for Donald Trump's recent primetime national address.
Networks Reject White House Graphics
The controversy erupted after the president's economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, appeared on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Thursday, 18 December 2025. Hassett expressed frustration that, with the notable exception of Fox News, outlets declined to show the presentation during their coverage of Trump's speech. He lamented the significant effort invested, stating, "Gosh, we spent so much time – more time on them."
This complaint confirmed earlier reporting by CNN's chief media analyst Brian Stelter, who revealed that the administration had actively shared the slides with networks and pressured them to air the graphics. The core reason for the widespread rejection was a lack of clear sourcing information provided by the White House for the data presented.
Fact-Checking Through Omission
The decision by most networks inadvertently served as an informal fact-check. Some slides that Fox News did broadcast, while labelled as "White House graphic," contradicted claims made by the president during his campaign-style speech. For instance, while Trump asserted that petrol prices had fallen below $3 per gallon in much of the nation, the accompanying White House slide showed the national average remained at roughly $3.
During his Morning Joe appearance, co-host Jonathan Lemire challenged Hassett on the president's tendency to exaggerate, specifically citing the misleading petrol price claims. Hassett deflected, pivoting to criticise the networks for not using the slides, which he said were "fact-checked by the Council of Economic Advisers." He questioned the hosts directly, asking, "did you guys show the slides?!"
Broader Reaction to the Address
The speech itself, described by some viewers as a "grievance-filled" rant, drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. On social media, many likened Trump's demeanour to "Grandpa Simpson" and used the phrase "old man yells at cloud" to mock the tone.
Criticism was not confined to liberal commentators. Far-right podcaster Matt Walsh dismissed the primetime event on Wednesday night, tweeting, "That was perhaps the most pointless primetime presidential address ever delivered in American history." Meanwhile, Fox News host and Trump confidant Sean Hannity featured the disputed slides on his programme following the address.
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and mainstream media outlets over the presentation and verification of official information, with Fox News continuing to operate as a favoured platform for White House communications.
