Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
WAUKESHA, Wisconsin – President Donald Trump abruptly terminated a nationally broadcast interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, calling anchor Kristen Welker “crooked” and “stupid” after she repeatedly challenged him to produce evidence for his unsupported claims of widespread election fraud in both the 2020 contest and California’s recent primary elections. The tense, pre‑recorded exchange, which took place on a farm outside Milwaukee, began with discussion of Trump’s proposed “anti‑weaponisation” fund but quickly devolved when the president pivoted to familiar but unsubstantiated allegations of a stolen election.
Welker, who had travelled to Wisconsin for the sit‑down, pressed Trump on what evidence he had to assert that the 2020 election was rigged or that the current California primaries were being “cheated.” “It’s four days and they aren’t even close to counting [ballots],” Trump said, dismissing California’s longstanding practice of accepting mail‑in ballots postmarked by election day, a process that routinely results in delayed final tallies. When Welker noted that election officials and independent reviews have consistently found no widespread fraud, Trump responded, “All I have to do is look, and I listen”.
Welker pushed back, saying, “But that’s not evidence.” The president then launched into a tirade against the media. “They’re crooked, just like you’re crooked. Your press is crooked. And Meet the Press is crooked,” Trump said. He accused NBC and other networks of bias, adding, “You’re a one‑sided, crooked network”. After Welker insisted, “To be fair, I’m not crooked,” Trump retorted, “You play right into their hands then. You’re either crooked or you’re stupid”.
With that, the president removed his microphone and announced, “Let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough. Thank you, darling. Have a good time.” He then gestured to staff, stood up and walked off the set, leaving Welker to explain to viewers that she had tried unsuccessfully to continue. The interview, filmed on Friday, was already delayed for about an hour by torrential rain that pounded the metal barn roof; NBC reported that Trump stayed for roughly 50 minutes before the walkout.
Earlier in the programme, Trump had been pressed on his controversial $1.8 billion fund to compensate individuals who claim they were unfairly targeted by federal law enforcement – a plan that drew sharp criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans, who argued it could lead to payments for people prosecuted for the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. Welker noted that there was no evidence for many of the claims of persecution, to which Trump replied, “There’s a lot of evidence. There’s tremendous evidence”. When Welker pointed out that no such evidence had been presented in any court, Trump repeated his false assertion that the 2020 election was rigged and that the same pattern was unfolding in California.
After the broadcast, Welker told viewers that she had spoken with Trump on Saturday and that he had agreed to give her another interview, though no date or location was set. The White House did not issue any immediate comment on the walkout. Trump has long enjoyed a combative relationship with mainstream media, often using the label “fake news” to dismiss critical reporting. Sunday’s abrupt exit marked one of the most dramatic public confrontations of his presidency, playing out on a programme that has been a fixture of American political journalism for decades. As the president stood up from the rain‑swept farm set, he offered a parting shot: “A country can never be great with a dishonest press”.
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