President Donald Trump walked out of an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker after a heated exchange about the “rigged” election.
During the taped interview, which aired Sunday on “Meet the Press,” Trump also attacked the integrity of the press, including the show he was covering.
He claimed the Biden administration “has sent people to prison who did nothing wrong.” Welker pushed back, saying there was no evidence to support the president’s claims, before trying to steer the conversation toward Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Trump, however, doubled down.
“There is a lot of evidence,” he said. “There is overwhelming evidence. Nothing but evidence.”
“Well, it hasn’t been filed in a court of law,” Welker replied. Trump then said that the 2020 election was rigged – a common objection of the president – as he claimed that the rigged election is currently being held in California.
Republicans, he said, “are falling fast because it’s a stolen election.” Welker questioned what evidence the president had to support his claims of “rigging” in the California election.
“They’re just as crooked as you are, your media is crooked. And ‘Meet the Press’ is crooked,” Trump responded.
“To be fair, I’m not a crook,” Welker said. “But let’s continue.”
Trump then accused Welker of playing “right into their hands.”
“You play these things for them. You know these elections are rigged. Your network knows they’re rigged,” he said before attacking his credibility. “You’re a one-sided misogynist, sorry, let’s go because I’ve had enough.”
Welker pleaded with Trump to continue the interview, pointing out that he and his team had traveled to Wisconsin for the interview, but Trump refused.
“You have to straighten your media, because you know what? The country can never be great with dishonest journalists,” he said.
After the interview aired, Welker said he spoke with Trump on Saturday and agreed to return for a follow-up interview. He did not say where or when the interview would take place.
