U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly ended an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press after a tense exchange with host Kristen Welker over his continued claims of election fraud.
The interview, recorded Friday on a Wisconsin farm and aired Sunday, covered a range of topics including U.S. policy toward Iran, military spending, foreign conflicts and Trump’s proposal to compensate individuals he believes were unfairly targeted under former President Joe Biden’s administration.
Throughout the interview, Trump faced repeated questions about his foreign policy approach and previous campaign promises regarding military involvement abroad. He defended his administration’s actions, arguing that current military operations do not constitute an “endless war,” while also criticizing the media and accusing Welker of political bias.
The discussion became increasingly confrontational when Welker challenged Trump’s repeated assertions that the 2020 presidential election and a recent California primary election were rigged. After Welker repeatedly asked for evidence to support the claims, Trump responded by attacking the network and the journalist before ending the interview.
“You’re a one-sided, crooked network,” Trump said before standing up and leaving the set. He later accused Welker of being either “crooked” or “stupid” during the exchange.
The interview was also interrupted several times by severe weather conditions, including heavy rain, thunder and technical difficulties. Despite the disruptions, Trump initially insisted the interview continue, telling the crew that viewers would understand the challenges of filming outdoors on a farm.
On Sunday, Welker told viewers she had spoken with Trump following the interview and that he had agreed to participate in another conversation at a later date.
The exchange marks the latest high-profile confrontation between Trump and members of the media, as questions surrounding his claims about election integrity continue to draw scrutiny from journalists and election officials.
