On Saturday, July 18th, 2026, CNN host Michael Smerconish criticized major television networks, including CNN, NBC, and ABC, for not airing President Donald Trump’s primetime speech on election fraud live on their channels. Smerconish described the networks' decision as an act of “condescension,” emphasizing that viewers should be trusted to assess the president’s remarks themselves.

Trump’s Thursday night address included allegations of foreign interference in U.S. elections, with claims that his administration uncovered evidence later published on a new White House website. However, the unclassified documents released did not appear to provide sufficient evidence supporting claims of foreign interference or voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

While CNN, NBC, and ABC declined to broadcast the speech live, CBS and Fox aired it with disclaimers. Smerconish stated that if Trump had delivered the speech on his own SiriusXM radio program, he would have interrupted regular programming to air it.

He argued that airing the speech does not equate to endorsing its content, noting that journalists can provide analysis and criticism afterward. “Had I taken this speech primarily on alleged election interference, I would not have been endorsing the content,” Smerconish said. “It would have been incumbent on me to offer fair comment and criticism when it ended.”

Smerconish further criticized the approach of refusing to air the speech in full and then later criticizing it, calling it unfair to both the president and viewers. “If it’s newsworthy enough to rebut, it’s newsworthy enough to air it first,” he said. “Rebuttal alone treats the audience as lacking any filter.” He added, “And the voters, they’ve heard it all; the words and the rebuttals and the fact checking. And they elected him twice, denying him 22 minutes in year ten? It’s not prevention.”