Trump walks out of interview with NBC’s Meet the Press after clash over election claims | Donald Trump
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-06-08 06:27:00 — www.theguardian.com
Trump Walks Out of NBC Interview After Repeating False Election Claims and Attacking Reporter
Donald Trump abruptly ended an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press after repeatedly making false claims about the 2020 presidential election and the California gubernatorial race, while also launching personal attacks on the interviewer and the network.
False Claims on Elections
During the interview, Trump asserted without evidence that the 2020 US presidential election was “rigged.” He also falsely claimed that the California gubernatorial race was “rigged,” arguing, “It’s four days and they aren’t even close to counting [ballots],” despite the interviewer, Kristen Welker, noting that such a timeline is standard for California’s election process. When pressed for evidence of fraud in the gubernatorial race, Trump did not provide any and instead escalated his rhetoric.
Attacks on Reporter and Network
Trump accused Welker and NBC of corruption, stating, “They’re crooked, just like you’re crooked, your press is crooked. And Meet the Press is crooked.” He continued, “You’re either crooked or you’re stupid. You play right into their hands with this crap. You know that these elections are rigged. Your network knows that they’re rigged.” These personal attacks came as Welker attempted to challenge Trump’s claims and ask further questions.
Refusal to Address January 6 Funding Questions
The interview grew more tense when Welker asked Trump if individuals who pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers during the January 6 riots would be eligible for funding from his “anti-weaponization” fund. Trump claimed—again without evidence—that the rioters were invited into the US Capitol by FBI agents and took plea deals out of fear of long prison sentences. He said, “You know why they pleaded guilty? Because they were told they were going to jail for 15 years … because they were frightened. They were down. They were ushered into a building,” but refused to answer whether such individuals should receive taxpayer funding.
Abrupt Exit
As the interview continued, Trump became increasingly agitated, ultimately ending the conversation by removing his microphone and saying, “Let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough. Thank you, darling. Have a good time.” When reminded that Welker had traveled to Wisconsin for the interview, Trump replied, “I’ve sat in the rain with you for an hour. On and off in the rain and I’ve given you enough time. You oughta straighten out your press.”
Conclusion
Trump’s latest interview was marked by a series of unsubstantiated claims about election fraud and disparaging remarks aimed at the press. His refusal to engage with questions about January 6 and his abrupt exit highlight his ongoing strategy of attacking critics and doubling down on false narratives, even when confronted with factual challenges. This pattern continues to shape public discourse around US elections and accountability.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/07/trump-walks-out-meet-the-press-nbc-interview