President Donald Trump has called for the Federal Communications Commission to take action against NBC News anchor Kristen Welker following remarks she made during a local promotional segment for “Meet the Press.” Welker discussed the mixed performance of Trump-endorsed candidates in recent primary elections while noting that the President would remain a significant factor in the upcoming midterm elections. Trump responded by demanding the FCC “report” Welker for “rebuke or punishment,” a request he shared on his Truth Social platform.
Welker’s comments, which were made during a local Washington, D.C. station preview and did not air on the main “Meet the Press” broadcast, consisted of factual analysis. She noted that while some Trump-backed candidates had lost primaries, others had succeeded. NBC News responded to Trump’s statement by defending its anchor, saying “Kristen is one of the best in the business and we stand by her.”
The FCC cannot directly punish individual journalists but can take regulatory action against the companies that operate news outlets. Under its current leadership, the Commission has taken increasingly active regulatory positions, including ongoing disputes with Disney and ABC over equal-time election provisions. Trump’s relationship with Welker has been inconsistent; while he has frequently granted her interviews, he criticized her on Sunday as the “Unpopular ‘Hostess'” of the program.
Originally reported by Variety →
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