Trump Threatens FCC Action Against NBC News Host Over Endorsement Comments

On Sunday, President Trump stated that NBC News’ Meet the Press host Kristen Welker would be reported to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for 'rebuke or punishment,' claiming she said that the candidates he endorsed had 'mixed results' in the recent election cycle, despite the FCC lacking jurisdiction in such matters. Trump criticized Welker, calling her the 'Unpopular Hostess' of the show, which he referred to as 'Meet the Fake Press.' He noted that his endorsements had a 100% success rate for U.S. Senate candidates and a 98% success rate for U.S. House candidates, as reported on his Truth Social account. Trump expressed hope that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr would take his concerns seriously. According to CNN’s Brian Stelter, Welker's comments about Trump's endorsement outcomes were made during a pre-show segment on NBC's Washington, D.C. affiliate, not during the main broadcast. Trump claimed a 98.35% endorsement record in the 2026 Republican primaries, while Welker referenced previous NBC News reporting indicating that several Trump-backed candidates had lost primaries in August. An analysis by USA Today noted that Trump-endorsed gubernatorial candidates had a lower success rate, winning only 79% of the time. Welker stated, 'He, of course, has endorsed a slate of candidates in the primaries. He’s had some mixed results,' while also mentioning the success of Senator Darline Graham in her primary battle. Trump's threat against Welker represents a continuation of his criticism of journalism, targeting her personally rather than calling for action against networks like ABC, which he has previously criticized. The FCC does not have the authority to punish individuals like Welker, as it regulates public broadcast licenses. Earlier this month, ABC and its parent company Disney sued the FCC, claiming that the Trump administration violated free speech rights by challenging its licenses based on news coverage. FCC Chair Brendan Carr had previously threatened to revoke licenses for broadcasters over allegations of 'running hoaxes and news distortions' related to the Iran War, which Trump had criticized as 'Fake News Media.'