Trump Storms Off Meet the Press — Calls Welker 'Crooked' Before Walking Out
President Donald Trump walked out of his NBC News "Meet the Press" interview on Sunday — delivering one of the most dramatic television moments of his second term after host Kristen Welker repeatedly challenged his claims about January 6 and election fraud.
"You're a one-sided crooked network," Trump told Welker before removing his microphone and leaving. "Sorry. Let's call it quits because I've had enough. Thank you, darling. Have a good time."
The moment immediately went viral — and it is a major story in our Politics & World News coverage.
What Triggered the Walkout
The interview was taped on Friday at a Wisconsin farm during Trump's visit to the state. It aired Sunday morning on "Meet the Press."
Tensions had been rising throughout the interview as Welker repeatedly pressed Trump on claims he had no evidence to support. The final breaking point came over Trump's controversial $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund — a DOJ-established fund designed to compensate individuals Trump claimed were persecuted by the federal government, including those convicted for their role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
Welker pressed Trump on whether he was backing off the fund after his acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated it had been abandoned. Trump launched into a lengthy defense while declining to directly answer. When Welker pushed further — asking whether he was comfortable with convicted January 6 rioters receiving taxpayer dollars — Trump escalated sharply.
He then pivoted to election fraud claims, asserting without evidence that elections had been "rigged." Welker asked for evidence. Trump cited none and instead attacked the network.
"Your elections are crooked and you're crooked, and Meet the Press is crooked," Trump said. "And so is ABC and CBS and CNN."
After removing his mic, Trump and Welker exchanged a few more words. Welker noted she had "traveled all the way to Wisconsin" for the interview. Trump replied: "I sat in the rain with you for an hour. On and off in the rain. And I've given you enough time."
Then he left.
The Reaction
The clip immediately dominated social media — with reactions splitting predictably along political lines.
CNN's Jake Tapper wrote: "Welker is a good person and honest journalist and didn't deserve that. But more importantly we have a president who constantly pushes conspiracy theories with zero evidence and can't respond when politely challenged."
Critics described the walkout as evidence that Trump "unravels when his delusional unreality faces the slightest pushback" — while Trump supporters framed it as the president refusing to be baited by a biased network.
The walkout comes just days after CBS News fired Scott Pelley from 60 Minutes amid accusations of editorial interference — giving the moment additional resonance about the state of the relationship between the Trump administration and mainstream broadcast media.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump walked out of his NBC "Meet the Press" interview on Sunday June 7 after host Kristen Welker fact-checked his claims about Jan 6 and election fraud.
- Trump called NBC a "one-sided crooked network" and told Welker: "Let's call it quits. Thank you, darling."
- The interview was taped Friday in Wisconsin and aired Sunday morning.
- Key flashpoints: Trump's $1.8B anti-weaponization fund and his unsubstantiated election fraud claims.
- The clip immediately went viral — CNN's Jake Tapper called it a moment that showed a president who "can't respond when politely challenged."
- The walkout follows the Scott Pelley/60 Minutes firing — another flashpoint in Trump vs mainstream media tensions.
