Trump criticizes NBC reporter and threatens FCC action

Relations between US President Donald Trump and NBC's Kristen Welker have been under strain for several months, following an interview in June where Trump abruptly ended the discussion. On Sunday, Trump expressed disappointment with Welker's coverage of his candidate endorsements ahead of the November midterm elections, threatening her with possible punishment by US media regulators. He criticized Welker, referring to her as the 'unpopular 'hostess' of the once great Meet the Press' talk show. Trump objected to her characterization of his endorsements as having 'mixed results,' asserting that his endorsements had succeeded 98 to 100 percent of the time. Welker, speaking to a local NBC affiliate, stated that Trump would 'loom large over these midterms' and acknowledged that while he had some mixed results, his endorsement of Senator Darline Graham was successful in her primary battle. Trump stated that due to what he called 'purposeful inaccuracy,' he would report Welker to the FCC for rebuke or punishment, adding that 'the Radical Left News is going out of their way to harass, demean, and libel anything 'TRUMP.'' An NBC News spokesperson defended Welker, stating, 'Kristen is one of the best in the business and we stand by her.' Trump has historically used media to his advantage but has increasingly criticized the press, labeling it as 'fake news.' His administration has implemented measures that some argue intimidate journalists, and the FCC, led by a Trump associate, has faced accusations of pressuring broadcasters. Trump urged FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to take his threats seriously. This incident is part of a broader pattern of Trump’s administration targeting media outlets perceived as critical, facing resistance from news organizations that argue such actions violate the First Amendment. Relations between Trump and Welker have been tense, particularly following a June interview where Trump became irritated with her questions about the war against Iran. Experts have noted that the FCC lacks the legal authority to punish broadcasters or reporters for their viewpoints, as confirmed by a 2025 paper from the Yale Journal on Regulation, which states that US law does not grant the FCC the power to ban controversial speech.