Photo: SAUL LOEB / AFP / Getty Images
President Donald Trump abruptly ended an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" after being challenged on his claims of election fraud and the controversial "Anti-Weaponization Fund." The interview, conducted in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, was marked by interruptions due to heavy rain.
During the interview, moderator Kristen Welker pressed Trump for evidence to support his allegations of election fraud in California's primary elections. Trump insisted that California officials were "cheating on the election," noting that five days after the primary, "they're nowhere close to picking a winner." He accused California of conducting a "rigged election" and criticized the media, calling "Meet the Press" and its host "crooked."
The interview became tense as Welker repeatedly asked Trump for evidence to back his claims. Trump responded by saying, "All I have to do is look," but Welker countered, "But that’s not evidence." Trump also defended his support for the now-scrapped $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," which was intended to compensate allies of the former president. The fund faced criticism for its lack of oversight and potential payouts to individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
As the interview continued, Trump grew increasingly frustrated and ended it by removing his microphone and telling Welker, "Let's call it quits because I've had enough." He added, "Thank you, darling. Have a good time," before walking away.
Welker later mentioned that she spoke with Trump on Saturday, and he agreed that the rain had caused complications during the interview. Trump indicated he would be open to conducting another interview in the future.