Trump's team is reportedly exploring options for a post-election Trump TV network


Donald Trump's team has reportedly made moves to investigate the possibility of launching a television network if the candidate fails to end up in the White House, the Financial Times reports. Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, reportedly "informally" spoke with Aryeh Bourkoff, the chief executive of the investment firm LionTree, about the potential network; people knowledgeable of the conversation said it was short and has not continued since the initial meeting.
Still, Kushner's meeting shows that reality does not seem to agree with Trump's assurance that "I have no interest in a media company," as he told The Washington Post in September. Yet despite Trump's massive support nationwide, the Financial Times reports establishing a Trump television network would be difficult because "cable and satellite companies are loath to take on extra channels in an era of shrinking audiences and 'cord-cutting.'"
But if Trump is indeed eyeing a future on TV, he has certainly surrounded himself with the right friends. Possible allies in such a future venture could include Kushner, who also heads The New York Observer, Trump campaign manager and Breitbart chairman Steve Bannon, Fox News' Sean Hannity, InfoWars' Alex Jones, and former Fox News head Roger Ailes, although his exit agreement from the network would prohibit him from close involvement.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
August 9 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include snake oil salesmen, Ghislaine Maxwell's new residence, and more
-
5 hastily redrawn cartoons about redistricting
Cartoons Artists take on Donald Trump's draughtsmanship, the White House ballroom, and more
-
Bonnie Blue: taking clickbait to extremes
Talking Point Channel 4 claims documentary on the adult performer's attention-grabbing sex stunts is opening up a debate
-
NFL gets ESPN stake in deal with Disney
Speed Read The deal gives the NFL a 10% stake in Disney's ESPN sports empire and gives ESPN ownership of NFL Network
-
Samsung to make Tesla chips in $16.5B deal
Speed Read Tesla has signed a deal to get its next-generation chips from Samsung
-
FCC greenlights $8B Paramount-Skydance merger
Speed Read The Federal Communications Commission will allow Paramount to merge with the Hollywood studio Skydance
-
Tesla reports plummeting profits
Speed Read The company may soon face more problems with the expiration of federal electric vehicle tax credits
-
Dollar faces historic slump as stocks hit new high
Speed Read While stocks have recovered post-Trump tariffs, the dollar has weakened more than 10% this year
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate