Trump Tells Kristen Welker She Is Either Crooked or Stupid Before Storming off the Set of Meet the Press
The insults continue.
Donald Trump stormed off the set of NBC’s Meet the Press after telling host Kristen Welker she was either “crooked or stupid” during a heated exchange about election fraud claims. The interview, which aired on Sunday, June 7, 2026, quickly spiraled into confrontation when Welker pressed Trump on his repeated assertions that the 2020 election was rigged and his support for a proposed $1.8 billion fund to compensate those charged in the January 6 Capitol riot.
According to PEOPLE, Welker asked Trump if he believed it was appropriate to financially support individuals arrested for storming the Capitol. “If it was up to me, I’d pay them the kind of money that they deserve,” he responded. “People have been destroyed. Lives have been destroyed. Many suicides, think of it.”
The President also framed the proposed “anti-weaponization fund” as a necessary response to what he called unjust targeting by the Biden administration. However, the Department of Justice had already backed away from the plan due to bipartisan backlash.
Things escalated when Welker asked Trump for evidence that the 2020 election was stolen
Trump deflected, insisting he only needed to “look” and “listen to people” to know the election was fraudulent. When Welker pointed out that courts had repeatedly rejected his fraud claims, Trump lashed out. “They’re cheating on the election,” he said, pivoting to California’s ongoing primary vote counts as proof.
“Do you think it’s appropriate that they have an election and five days later, they’re nowhere close to picking a winner?” he asked, referencing the still-unresolved mayoral primaries in Los Angeles. Welker didn’t back down, telling Trump he had never presented concrete evidence of widespread fraud.
That’s when Trump unloaded. “You’re either crooked or you’re stupid,” he snapped. “You play right into their hands with this crap. You know that these elections are rigged. Your network knows that they’re rigged.” Moments later, he abruptly ended the interview. “Let’s call it quits, because I’ve had enough,” he said, removing his microphone and appearing to press it under his shoe before walking off. “Thank you, darling. Have a good time.”
The walkout isn’t an isolated incident
Trump has a long history of clashing with female journalists, often resorting to personal attacks when pressed on politically sensitive topics. According to Newsweek, just days ago, he accused CNN’s Kaitlan Collins of having “hatred in her eyes” at the Oval Office. “She’s a young, beautiful woman who never smiles,” he said.
In March, he shushed an unnamed ABC reporter on Air Force One, calling her a “very obnoxious person” after she asked about a fundraising email featuring a photo of him at a military transfer ceremony. A White House spokesperson defended the remark, saying, “Americans appreciate that President Trump tells it like it is – and obnoxious is obnoxious, no matter what gender you are.”
In November, Trump interrupted Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey with, “Quiet, quiet piggy,” when she tried to ask a follow-up question. That same month, he called ABC’s Mary Bruce a “terrible person and a terrible reporter” after she questioned him about Saudi Arabia. He also referred to NYT reporter Katie Rogers as a “third-rate reporter” who is “ugly both inside and out” following a story about his health.
Experts say Trump’s rhetoric isn’t just about disagreement
It’s part of a broader trend of public figures targeting female journalists in ways that can have real-world consequences. Amy Tatum, a lecturer in communication and media, says that Trump’s comments reflect a lack of accountability for how powerful men speak about women in public.
“President Trump may feel emboldened to speak this way about women as there has been little outcry or backlash to such comments he has made, or those made by other politicians or people in power,” she said. “The women in question are being insulted in front of global audiences. This potential public humiliation speaks to the open way in which men are permitted to criticize and attack women with little, if any, penalty for doing so.”
The International Women’s Media Foundation warned in late 2025 that Trump’s remarks contribute to a “pattern of targeting and harassing women journalists,” noting that public attacks can trigger online abuse and add professional pressure. A 2021 UNESCO report found that nearly three-quarters of female journalists surveyed had experienced online violence, and one-fifth said they’d been attacked or abused offline in connection with it.
The White House has consistently defended Trump’s behavior, framing it as holding the press accountable. Spokesperson Taylor Rodgers said Trump “answers unrestricted questions nearly every single day from the failing legacy media” and provides “candid answers for the American people while also holding the press accountable.” Rodgers called the administration “the most accessible and transparent in history.”
Trump’s meltdown is the latest example of how his confrontational style plays out on a national stage
The interview covered a range of topics, from the Iran war to potential interest rate hikes, but the conversation kept circling back to his grievances – the election, the media, and those he believes have wronged him. When Welker asked about the “anti-weaponization fund,” Trump called it a “great idea” and expressed disappointment that it was dropped.
His frustration boiled over when Welker refused to accept his election fraud claims at face value. “Your elections in this country are like a third-world country,” he told her. “Your elections are crooked. And you’re crooked. And Meet the Press is crooked, and so is ABC, and CBS, and CNN.” The accusation that the media is inherently dishonest is a familiar refrain for Trump.
(Featured image: Joshua Qualls)
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