President Donald Trump walked off an interview with NBC News that aired Sunday when challenged on his false claims about California’s ongoing elections and the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Trump was speaking with Meet the Press host Kristen Welker in a barn in Chippewa Falls, Wis., on Friday about his proposal for a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that has been sidelined since critics claimed it would be used to pay his allies and supporters, including some who took part in the Jan. 6 riot.
Welker asked Trump if the 172 people who pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers—and whom Trump pardoned at the start of his second term—deserved payouts. Trump, without substantiating, claimed that the FBI actually ushered rioters inside the Capitol and that the individuals only pleaded guilty out of fear of getting harsher sentences. Welker told Trump there was no evidence behind his claims, to which he responded, “There’s a lot of evidence,” without offering any specifics.
The President then repeated his longstanding claim that the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Joe Biden, was rigged, and that a “dirty” election was “happening again right now” in California, where several key races are taking place, including for governor. Democratic former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has so far advanced to the general election, with Trump-backed Republican Steve Hilton trailing close behind as votes continue to be counted in the top-two—regardless of party—primary.
“It’s four days and they aren’t even close,” Trump told Welker of the pace of vote-counting in the state, adding that the election was “rigged.” Welker then pressed, “Do you have evidence to support that?” to which Trump answered, “All I have to do is look.”
When Welker mentioned what local officials have said about the process, Trump said, “They’re crooked. Just like you’re crooked. Your press is crooked and Meet the Press is crooked.”
Trump continued to attack Welker, saying that she was “either crooked” or “stupid” and that she had no “credibility.” He then broadened the target of his ire to the wider media landscape, slamming other TV networks ABC, CBS, and CNN.
“Let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough,” Trump said, ending the interview. “Thank you darling. Have a good time.” On his way out, he appeared to step on the microphone.
The President has clashed with the press for reporting critically on him and his Administration, and he has also had a pattern of targeting female journalists in particular.
Welker, during the show’s broadcast on Sunday, said that she followed up with Trump on Saturday and that they “both acknowledged the complications during the interview posed by the rain.” Heavy rain pelting the barn’s roof could be heard throughout the interview. Welker added that Trump agreed to do another interview.
Trump appeared to refer to the interview while speaking at a farmers roundtable in Wisconsin later on Friday. He also attributed his irritation to the weather.
“I just did an interview in the most beautiful barn I’ve ever seen,” the President said. “It was a beauty, but it was raining. And it was with NBC fake news. And because it was raining, I got a little bit angry at them. I was not happy with them. But we had a good time.”
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