During a Thursday night phone interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump compared the Russian government's rough control of its media when discussing the video's takedown in the 24 hours since it was released.
"This is what they do in Russia," Trump said. "If you look at Russia, Russia doesn't know — the people in Russia, they don't even know that they are fighting a war with Ukraine because they have no press."
GONE TOO SOON: NYPD MOURNS FALLEN OFFICER AFTER FATAL CONFRONTATION, IS BIDEN'S AMERICA TO BLAME?
"This is not a free press," Trump told Hannity. "Big Tech is a disaster. And our country is a much different place. What they're doing is really terrible."
GONE TOO SOON: NYPD MOURNS FALLEN OFFICER AFTER FATAL CONFRONTATION, IS BIDEN'S AMERICA TO BLAME?
After Russian armed forces invaded Ukraine two weeks ago, YouTube announced it would thwart Russian state-funded channels connected to RT and Sputnik all across Europe. YouTube, under a Google sweep, also suspended advertising in Russia. Before that ban, Russian censor Roskomnadzor said YouTube was running large “advertising campaigns to misinform the Russian audience,” according to the Wall Street Journal.
RE-SHAPING THE FUTURE: TENNESSEE GOV. BILL LEE UNVEILS BOLD PLAN FOR "EDUCATION FREEDOM"
A notice on the Nelk Boys video's YouTube page says the Trump interview violated the platform's community guidelines.
DIPLOMATIC RIFT DEEPENS: NETANYAHU CANCELS TALKS WTH BIDEN AFTER UN CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE
Kyle Forgeard, one member of the Nelk Boys, tweeted that the episode had garnered more than 5 million views in 24 hours before it was removed. He also shared a screenshot that appeared to be the response they got from YouTube explaining the removal.
FIVE ARRESTED IN SOUTHERN TEXAS FOR TRAFFICKING OF MILITARY-GRADE WEAPONS TO CARTEL
The message said the video violated YouTube's misinformation policy, ostensibly to talk about the last presidential election. "Content that advances false claims that widespread fraud, errors, or glitches changed the outcome of the U.S. 2020 presidential election is not allowed on YouTube," the message said in the section explaining how the content violated the policy.
GONE TOO SOON: NYPD MOURNS FALLEN OFFICER AFTER FATAL CONFRONTATION, IS BIDEN'S AMERICA TO BLAME?
The Washington Examiner reached out to YouTube for comment. Trump said it had been a "very good conversation."
ELON MUSK'S LEGAL SALVO AGAINST HATE SPEECH BACKFIRES AFTER JUDGE DISMISSES LAWSUIT
"This was the best show they've done, I guess in terms of views," Trump said. "And they actually took it down. Really what it is Sean is they've taken away the voice of the people, and I don't think the people will stand for it any longer."
Trump reiterated that "this is what happens in other countries," adding that it is "not supposed to happen in this country."
Trump also talked about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, his love of music, golf, and more during his interview with the Nelk Boys at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The Nelk Boys have more than 7 million subscribers on YouTube.