President Donald Trump abruptly ended an interview with Meet the Press, aired June 7, after a heated exchange with moderator Kristen Welker.
During the recorded June 5 interview, tensions rose when Welker questioned Trump about claims of election fraud and a proposed $1.776 billion compensation fund for victims of politically motivated investigations. Trump said he still supported the fund but expressed frustration over the questioning.
Asked whether individuals linked to the January 6 Capitol riot could benefit from the fund, Trump did not rule it out and repeated claims that FBI agents had influenced events—an assertion Welker said had no evidence. The two also clashed over Trump’s repeated claims that the 2020 election and a recent California primary were “rigged,” which Welker challenged as unsubstantiated.
After several minutes of back-and-forth, Trump said, “We are stopping right here because I’ve had enough,” removed his microphone, and walked out. NBC declined to comment, and the White House did not respond.
Later, Trump referenced the interview at an event, suggesting bad weather contributed to his irritation.