Trump vows to report NBC host to FCC over endorsement comment
President Trump said he will report NBC's Kristen Welker to the Federal Communications Commission after she commented on his endorsement record. He claimed his endorsements have high win rates, but some of his endorsed candidates have lost primaries this year. Trump's threat comes amid ongoing tensions with the media.
The dispute stems from a pre-show segment on WRC-TV, NBC's Washington affiliate, where Welker characterized Trump's endorsement record as mixed. Trump's rebuttal cited recent primary victories by Sen. Darline Graham and Oklahoma gubernatorial nominee Mike Mazzei, claiming near-perfect win rates in Senate and House races. However, the article notes several endorsed candidates lost primaries this year, including Reps. Cory Mills and Andy Ogles, plus Michigan's Amir Hassan.
This is not the first clash between Trump and Welker. He ended an interview with her in June over her questioning of his rigged-election claims, and previously criticized her handling of questions about the Signal chat leak. The threat also follows Disney and ABC's recent lawsuit against the FCC, alleging the administration is pressuring the agency to review broadcast licenses as a form of censorship.
This episode could further strain relations between the executive branch and major news networks, potentially chilling how journalists cover presidential endorsements or other politically sensitive topics. Broadcasters may become more cautious in their phrasing, while audiences could see this as either legitimate accountability or an attempt to intimidate the press. The FCC's response may signal how the administration intends to use regulatory power over media, affecting public trust in both government institutions and news organizations.