President Donald Trump dipped into his arsenal of insults as he grew increasingly frustrated with Meet the Press host Kristen Welker doing her job as a journalist before he eventually stormed out of an interview that aired Sunday.
Trump's crash-out arrived minutes after Welker asked him about the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, a concept that the administration says it is not moving forward despite the president not ruling out the idea of Jan. 6 rioters getting taxpayer-funded payouts.
After expressing his openness to paying those who attacked police officers during the Capitol riot, he dropped several false, baseless claims regarding the attack, including one about FBI agents ushering people into the building and those who pled guilty to assaulting cops.
Welker challenged the president's fog of falsehoods on multiple occasions, later taking on his talk of rigged primary elections that took place in California, evidence of which is about as present as the dodo bird.
Let me tell you, it is four days, and they are not even close to coming up with the, Trump started. That is how they count the votes in California, Welker interjected. Do you know why they are doing that? Because they are cheating on the election, Trump continued. There is... What? Do you have evidence to support that? the host asked. It is all I have to do is look. All I have to do is look, Trump replied. But that is not evidence, Welker reminded the president.
Trump went on to accuse California election officials of being crooked before attacking Welker, adding, Just like you are crooked, your press is crooked. And Meet the Press is crooked. You are either crooked or you are stupid, Trump told Welker.
He continued his tantrum about the crooked media, a rambling set to the tune of rain hitting the metal roof of a farm building in Wisconsin, the site of the interview. You are a one-sided crooked network. Sorry. Let us call it quits because I have had enough. Thank you, darling. Have a good time, he said as he tossed his microphone to the ground and made a dismissive hand gesture toward Welker.
Mr. President, let us please, I traveled all the way to Wisconsin, she pleaded. I have sat in the rain with you, said the president, pointing to the roof. I know. I traveled all the way, she replied. I sat in the rain with you for an hour, repeated Trump as he looked directly at Welker. On and off in the rain, and I have given you enough time. You ought to straighten out your press, because you know what? A country can never be great with a dishonest press.
He then signaled for his team to leave, got up from his seat and proceeded to walk off camera.
After the interview aired, Welker said she spoke with the president Saturday and the two acknowledged the complications posed by the rain during the interview. Trump has agreed to sit down for another interview, per Welker.
