President Donald Trump walked out of a Meet the Press interview that NBC taped June 5 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, after a tense exchange with host Kristen Welker over his claims about election fraud.
NBC News aired the roughly 39-minute interview on Sunday, June 7, showing Trump removing his lapel microphone, tossing it to the ground, stepping on it, and leaving as Welker tried to keep the interview going.
Highlights
- Trump walked out of a Meet the Press interview taped June 5 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
- Kristen Welker pressed Trump for evidence on election-related claims, which he did not provide.
- Trump removed his lapel mic, threw it down, stepped on it and left the interview.
- NBC later said its fact-check found false, misleading or exaggerated comments in the interview.
- Trump blamed the rain during the barn interview for making him angry at NBC.
Welker pressed Trump for evidence, which he did not provide, before he called NBC a "one-sided crooked network" and said he had "had enough."
One question about election fraud, and it all unraveled fast
Photo credits: The White House
The interview took place on a farm in Wisconsin, where Trump had addressed farmers. A tractor and hay bales appeared behind him, while heavy rain hit the metal roof of the barn loudly enough to interrupt parts of the conversation.
Welker questioned Trump on several topics, including his war with Iran, his $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, and the upcoming midterm elections.
The exchange grew sharper when she pressed him on claims tied to election fraud and said there was "no evidence" to support them. Trump doubled down and pushed back at both Welker and Meet the Press.
At one point, Trump called the journalist "crooked or stupid." Moments later, he ended the interview himself, saying, "You're a one-sided crooked network. Sorry. Let's call it quits because I've had enough. Thank you, darling. Have a good time."
As Welker asked him to continue, Trump took the microphone off his blazer, threw it down, stepped on it, and waved her off. He also pointed to the rain hitting the roof and said, "I've sat in the rain with you." The moment quickly went viral after the broadcast.
After the episode aired, NBC published a fact-check of remarks Trump made during the shortened interview. The network said it found a series of "false, misleading, or exaggerated comments."
Trump then blamed the rain
Trump later blamed the conditions in the barn while speaking with reporters at an agricultural roundtable. "I just did an interview in the most beautiful barn I've ever seen. But it was raining. And it was with NBC fake news. 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," he said.
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
Welker told viewers Sunday that she had spoken with Trump on Saturday about the weather disruptions. She said he agreed to give her another interview.
The reaction was not one-sided. Supporters praised Trump for pushing back against what they saw as hostile questioning from mainstream media outlets, and some Trump-aligned outlets framed the walkout as justified pushback against a biased press rather than a meltdown.
Photo credits: The White House
The confrontation also renewed attention on Trump's clashes with reporters who challenge him. Related coverage has noted his recent attack on CNN's Kaitlan Collins and broader criticism that his press attacks often target women reporters.