NBC host Kristen Welker revealed that President Donald Trump struck a more conciliatory tone after storming out of their 'Meet the Press' interview. Speaking to Vanity Fair in a story posted Thursday, Welker said, 'I spoke to him the morning after the interview, and without getting into an exact verbatim of what was said, he effectively said, “Look, the rain was disruptive. We’re going to do this again in Washington.”'
Interview Tensions
The Sunday-aired interview saw mounting tension as Trump baselessly insisted that FBI agents ushered in the pro-Trump mob who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and that the 2020 election was rigged, along with the recent California election. As rain pelted the Wisconsin barn serving as a makeshift set, Welker pushed back on the claims, demanding evidence that Trump failed to produce. This resistance ignited his fury and eventual exit.
Trump's Outburst
In the moment, Trump was in full rage mode, calling Welker 'crooked' multiple times and 'stupid' as he barked about the media. His hissy fit reached a crescendo when he said, 'All right, let’s call it quits cause I’ve had enough. Thank you, darling. Have a good time.' As Welker pleaded that she had traveled 'all the way to Wisconsin' (which she regrets, per Vanity Fair), Trump retorted, 'I’ve sat in the rain with you for an hour ... and I’ve given you enough time. You oughta straighten out your press because you know what, a country can never be great with a dishonest press.' He then stood up, touched Welker on the shoulder, and shuffled off the set.
Welker's Response
Welker, who has covered Trump since 2015, told Vanity Fair, 'It doesn’t faze me at all. It’s part of the conversation. I anticipate it to some extent.' HuffPost has reached out to NBC and the White House to see if a second interview date has been set.
