Donald Trump launches Drudge Report-style website ‘White House Wire' to combat fake news

Time of India

02-05-2025

In a major media development, former U.S. President
has launched a new website called
White House Wire
(WH.gov/wire), modeled closely after the conservative-leaning
Drudge Report
.
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Announced on a Wednesday, the platform is designed to serve as a centralized bulletin board featuring pro-Trump news coverage and bypassing traditional mainstream media sources, which Trump has frequently labeled as "
fake news
."
The new site arrives amidst continued tensions between Trump and national news organizations, positioning itself as an alternative outlet for supporters seeking curated, pro-administration content.
Styled with a retro hyperlink-heavy layout, White House Wire reflects a calculated strategy to directly influence public perception by amplifying favorable coverage and diminishing critical press narratives. This move builds upon existing Trump-era practices of reshaping media access and messaging, marking a further evolution in the former president's effort to consolidate communications within partisan boundaries.
Drudge-Style 'White House Wire' goes live with Trump's top headlines
White House Wire features a streamlined, bulletin-board format similar to the Drudge Report. The homepage is divided into columns filled with hyperlinks to articles sourced from media outlets favorable to Trump or those that offer positive analysis of his administration's actions. The layout is intentionally minimalistic to prioritize rapid navigation and headline visibility.
Highlighted articles as of the launch include:
"THE MOST SUCCESSFUL FIRST 100 DAYS IN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY" (Fox News)
"Border shutdown tops list of Trump's successes at 100 days" (Washington Times)
"The President's First 100 Days Is a Return to American Greatness" (Newsweek, opinion piece by Sen. Roger Marshall)
The site also links directly to Trump's media appearances, such as an ABC News interview, and includes a 24/7 headline ticker dubbed "FOURTY-SEVEN," referencing Trump's aspirations for a second term as the 47th president.
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White House Wire: Trump's new tool to sideline mainstream media
White House Wire represents a calculated expansion of Trump's longstanding media strategy. Throughout his political career, Trump has accused mainstream news outlets like CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post of spreading misinformation or promoting biased coverage. White House Wire serves as a curated feed, elevating coverage that aligns with Trump's messaging while minimizing opposing narratives.
This platform also reinforces Trump's broader campaign efforts by creating a digital space that mirrors conservative values, promotes patriotism, and highlights key Republican policy achievements. It provides an official platform for amplifying supportive commentary, thereby reducing dependence on external media intermediaries.
Relationship with conservative media
The site's structure pays homage to the Drudge Report, a historically influential conservative news aggregator.
However, unlike Drudge's current editorial stance—which has become more critical of Trump in recent years—White House Wire maintains an explicitly supportive tone. This differentiation positions White House Wire as a replacement rather than a complement to more traditional conservative aggregators.
According to a White House spokesperson, "It's a place for supporters of the president's agenda to get the real news all in one place in a shareable and readable format."
The source emphasized the site's function as a "one-stop shop" for pro-Trump narratives, promoting the platform as a means of enhancing transparency and advocating an "America First" agenda.
Exclusion of mainstream outlets and media controversies
White House Wire also aligns with Trump-era practices of limiting access for mainstream media outlets. During his administration, Trump frequently gave preferential treatment to right-leaning news organizations and excluded or diminished the role of legacy publishers.
In one instance, the Associated Press reportedly faced penalties after refusing to adopt the term "Gulf of America" instead of the "Gulf of Mexico."
Such incidents underscore the broader media strategy behind White House Wire: creating an ecosystem where only approved narratives are promoted, and dissenting viewpoints are systematically excluded. This mirrors prior efforts to reshape White House press briefings, inviting personalities from outlets like OANN and Breitbart while marginalizing more critical media voices.
Implications for political communication
The launch of White House Wire has implications for political communication in the digital age. It illustrates the growing trend of political figures bypassing traditional media filters by creating their own channels. This trend, which gained momentum during Trump's first term, reflects a broader transformation in how political leaders disseminate information, engage supporters, and manage narratives.
White House Wire could also influence voter behavior, particularly among core supporters who prefer direct messaging over potentially critical interpretations.
As the 2024 election cycle intensifies, platforms like White House Wire may play a significant role in framing debates, distributing campaign content, and rallying supporters through controlled messaging.