Trump's live appearances pose a riddle that news executives still haven't solved

News executives are certainly familiar with Donald Trump as he seeks his third straight Republican nomination for president

NEW YORK -- Even as Donald Trump seeks his third straight Republican presidential nomination, his live appearances still present an unsolved riddle for many news outlets: How do you cover him?

The question hung in the air as CNN, MSNBC and some streaming outlets started — then stopped — showing Trump's speech following Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. There was little hand-wringing at Fox News Channel and Newsmax, networks that appeal to Trump supporters. They carried the former president's remarks in full.

Outlets weigh whether an event's newsworthiness justifies live coverage when there's a risk Trump will make false statements that are difficult, if not impossible, to correct in real time — or go completely off script with something entirely unexpected.

And as a year of campaign and courtroom events loom, news executives will face similar decisions again and again.

MSNBC pointedly opted out of carrying Trump after the Iowa caucuses a week ago, as Rachel Maddow said “there is a cost to us as a news organization of knowingly broadcasting untrue things.” But after New Hampshire, MSNBC starting showing him, Maddow noting Trump's Iowa speech had been mild-mannered by Trump standards.