Donald Trump wants his federal election interference trial televised

An artist sketch depicts former president Donald Trump, right (Dana Verkouteren/AP)

Donald Trump is pushing for his US federal election interference trial in Washington to be televised, joining media outlets that say the American public should be able to watch the historic case unfold.

Federal court rules prohibit broadcasting proceedings, but the Associated Press and other news organisations say the unprecedented case of a former president standing trial on accusations that he tried to subvert the will of voters warrants making an exception.