U.S. President Donald Trump sat down for an interview with NBC News' 'Meet the Press' host Kristen Welker on Sunday, but the conversation ended prematurely after a heated exchange over election integrity. The interview, recorded on Friday and aired Sunday, quickly escalated when Welker pressed Trump on his repeated assertions that the 2020 presidential election was rigged.
Trump Defends Anti-Weaponization Fund
During the interview, Trump defended his proposed nearly $1.8-billion 'anti-weaponization fund,' designed to compensate individuals who claim they were unfairly targeted by the Biden administration, including those arrested for involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots. However, the Justice Department recently blocked the fund, which was part of a deal to resolve Trump's lawsuit against the IRS.
Trump explained to Welker that the fund would have established a panel to review cases individually. He criticized the media and the Biden administration, stating, 'People like you — the fake dirty press, the crooked press — what they did to the lives of people, they destroyed people.'
Welker Challenges Lack of Evidence
Welker countered that there has been 'no evidence' to support Trump's claims of a rigged election. She attempted to ask about Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's announcement that the fund would not proceed, but Trump interrupted, insisting, 'There's tremendous evidence. There's nothing but evidence.' He then alleged that the election was 'rigged' and that similar fraud was occurring in California's current elections.
When Welker asked for proof, Trump pointed to California's slow vote counting, which he attributed to cheating. 'All I have to do is look,' he said. 'I listen to people and let's see what happens.'
Accusations of Media Bias
The exchange grew more contentious as Trump accused Welker and the media of being 'crooked.' He stated, 'Your press is crooked, and Meet the Press is crooked.' Welker defended herself, saying, 'To be fair, I'm not crooked,' but Trump retorted, 'You're either crooked or you're stupid.' He claimed his network knows the elections are rigged and that he received 94% negative coverage.
Interview Ends Abruptly
Trump then declared, 'Let's call it quits because I've had enough. Thank you, darling,' as he removed his microphone. Welker urged him to stay, noting she had traveled to Wisconsin for the interview. Trump countered that they had conducted the interview in the rain, which was audible in the background. 'I've given you enough time,' he said. 'You ought to straighten out your press because a country can never be great with a dishonest press.'
On Sunday, Welker informed viewers that she had spoken with Trump on Saturday about the weather disruptions and that he had agreed to a follow-up interview.
