Former President Donald Trump has called for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take action against NBC News moderator Kristen Welker, accusing her of making inaccurate statements about his endorsement record. Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday, demanding that Welker face "rebuke or punishment" for her comments.
Welker, the moderator of "Meet the Press," stated on a local NBC affiliate prior to the show's airing that Trump "has had some mixed results" with his candidate endorsements, while also noting recent successes. She specifically mentioned Senator Darline Graham's primary victory in South Carolina as a recent win for Trump's picks.
Trump contested Welker's assessment, citing the 100% win rate for his endorsed candidates in recent U.S. Senate races and a 98% win rate for U.S. House candidates, both recently and long-term. He questioned how someone using "freely given Public Airwaves" could make such statements.
"Because of this purposeful inaccuracy, she will be reported to the FCC for rebuke or punishment," Trump wrote. "Unfortunately, she is not the only one."
This is not the first time Trump has publicly criticized Welker. In June, he walked out of an interview with her when she questioned him on election security and his claims of election interference. Trump has also had public exchanges with other female journalists, including Kaitlan Collins of CNN and Maggie Haberman of The New York Times.
An NBC News spokesperson defended Welker, stating, "Kristen is one of the best in the business and we stand by her."
Trump's endorsements have largely been successful, though he has experienced some losses, particularly in Republican gubernatorial primaries. He recently urged attendees at a rally in Myrtle Beach to vote as if he were on the ballot, emphasizing his influence in driving GOP voters.
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