‘Disgrace’: ABC cuts Albo speech short to prioritise Trump

ABC viewers have pointed out an interesting detail in the national broadcaster’s coverage of Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump.

The ABC has been accused by some viewers of relegating Anthony Albanese to the B-side in favour of Donald Trump, who was this week sworn in for the second time as President of the United States.

The national broadcaster had been showing the Prime Minister’s press conference – about the Federal Government’s response to a rising spate of anti-Semitic attacks across Australia – live to viewers on Wednesday morning.

As Mr Albanese answered questions from reporters toward the end of the press conference, the ABC cut away to the White House, where President Trump – who was sworn in on Tuesday morning AEDT – was speaking.

The switch didn’t go unnoticed by some critics on X, who insinuated the ABC was prioritising international affairs over local matters.

News.com.au has contacted the ABC for comment.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

Newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump. Picture: Supplied

“Australia’s National Broadcaster to the ABC cuts off Prime Minister Albanese who is speaking Live in Australia to give us President Trump who is speaking Live in the USA,” one user wrote.

“The ABC is a National Disgrace.”

Another person on the Elon Musk-owned platform said it was “breathtaking”.

“It appears that the interests of the US and Israel governments are being put before our own government and the Australian public,” they said.

“I’m almost lost for words.”

“How soon will Albanese be expected to express his anger and disgust that the PM of this nation is cut off by the National Broadcaster in favour of a convicted felon?? He has every right to do so,” a third wrote.

Social media users accused the national broadcaster of putting ‘the interests of the US and Israel governments … before our own government and the Australian public’. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Others, however, defended Aunty’s decision – one that was likely replicated by other networks, given Mr Trump’s first days back in office is inarguably, at present, one of the biggest news stories in the world.

“Which moment had more value, in your opinion?” one user asked.

“ABC is doing its job and broadcasting the news,” another wrote.

In his Menzies Oration in Ballarat in October, ABC chair Kim Williams said that funding local news and public interest journalism was crucial in a world “in which the misuse of information and the distortion of culture poses such a grave threat to democracy”.

“The tech giants will complain, of course, but chipping in to the commonweal is a small price to pay for the highly profitable privilege of running media organisations in free, democratic countries with modern infrastructure,” Mr Williams said.

“Without truth there can be no democracy.”

Originally published as ‘Disgrace’: ABC cuts Albo speech short to prioritise Trump