Trump Attacks NBC Journalist and Asks FCC to Punish Her, NBC Responds

Donald Trump’s dispute with NBC News began with a brief television comment that did not even appear in the later episode of Meet the Press. Kristen Welker, speaking live on WRC-TV in Washington before the program aired, described Trump-backed candidates’ primary results as “some mixed results.”

Trump responded in a Truth Social post on Aug. 30 by calling the remark a “deliberate inaccuracy.” He said Welker would be reported to the Federal Communications Commission for “a reprimand or punishment” and asked FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to take the matter seriously. Trump also questioned how such comments could be broadcast over a network using public frequencies, and called the press a disgrace to the United States.

NBC News immediately defended Welker. “Kristen is one of the best in the business and we stand behind her,” an NBC spokesperson said, according to Reuters.

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a reprimand or punishment

Trump rejected the idea that his endorsed candidates had produced mixed results. He claimed his endorsements ranked among the strongest in political history and pointed to the high share of his preferred candidates who won Republican primaries.

The figures offer support for both sides of the argument described in the report. A New York Times analysis published Aug. 26 said Trump had backed at least 260 candidates for the House, Senate and governor’s races during the 2026 primary cycle, with only nine defeated by that point. But many were incumbents or competed in relatively safe contests, including races without an opponent. The overall record was therefore highly favorable, while Welker’s description also reflected the fact that some Trump-backed candidates had lost.

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Kristen is one of the best in the business and we stand behind her