President Donald Trump joined NBC for an interview on “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker” on Sunday.
After multiple weather-related interruptions, Trump abruptly ended the interview after Welker questioned the president’s claims of large-scale voter fraud.
Trump has repeatedly claimed there was substantial voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election and in the recent primary elections in California.
“You’re a one-sided crooked network,” said Trump. “Sorry. Let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough. Thank you, darling. Have a good time.”
Trump stood up and removed his microphone as Welker asked him to continue the interview.
The interview took place in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, which is in a swing district. Trump spoke there to rural voters and promised that farmers’ costs would go down after the war in Iran ends.
Before the abrupt end, Trump responded to questions about Iran, the November midterm elections, and the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund for Trump supporters allegedly targeted by the Biden administration.
The conversation was interrupted multiple times due to heavy rain and technological difficulties.
The conversation before Trump left
Welker began the interview by questioning Trump about the war in Iran and about his 2016 campaign promise of “no new wars.”
“First of all,” said Trump, “I didn’t guarantee ‘no war.’ Why would I have built the strongest military in the world?”
“Now, I’m going to put (the war in Iran) out permanently … I didn’t promise anything. I don’t like these endless wars. This is not an endless war.”
When asked about what would prompt him to restart military action, Trump responded, “My red line would be if I think I wasn’t going to make a deal, or if I wasn’t going to make a deal fast enough.”
Welker also questioned Trump about his future plans for the anti-weaponization fund.
Trump said that the fund was established to help people that have “been hurt so badly by radical left lunatics.”
“If it was up to me,” Trump continued, “I’d pay them the kind of money that they deserve. … I think the weaponization fund is a great idea, and so do many other Republicans. … If they don’t get it approved, I’d be disappointed.”
Trump also said that oil and gas prices are “all coming down as soon as the war’s over.”
Heavy rain causes delays and frustration
The interview was conducted inside an outbuilding on a farm. At multiple points in the interview, heavy rain on the metal roof interrupted the conversation as they were unable to hear each other.
The weather delays added to Trump’s frustration, but the president agreed to continue despite the interruptions.
After multiple delays, there was also a technical difficulty with the audio that again paused the conversation.
At the end of the interview, Trump said, “I sat in the rain with you for an hour. On and off in the rain, and I’ve given you enough time.”
President ends interview over pushback against voter fraud claims
Alongside the weather delays, Trump became frustrated as Welker pushed back against many of his answers.
After being asked about the anti-weaponization fund, Trump defended some of the Jan. 6 protesters, saying “they were being ushered into the building.”
Welker disagreed, saying, “There’s no evidence of that, sir. There’s no evidence of that.”
The conversation became more tense as the topic shifted to allegations of voter fraud.
About the 2020 presidential election, Trump said, “The election was rigged. It was a dirty election. And it’s happening again right now in California.”
Welker responded by again saying there was no evidence for Trump’s claims.
Trump shifted his criticism to Welker and the media, saying, “They’re crooked, just like you’re crooked, your press is crooked. And ‘Meet the Press is crooked.’ … And so is ABC and CBS and CNN.”
Welker continued to deny the president’s allegations and Trump responded by ending the interview.
“You ought to straighten out your press, because you know what?” said Trump. “A country can never be great with a dishonest press.”
After the interview, Trump spoke at an agricultural roundtable and said, “I just did an interview, but it was raining. … And because it was raining, I got a little bit angry at them. I was not happy with them. But we had a good time.”