NBC News defends Kristen Welker after Trump threatens FCC complaint
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The dispute follows comments Welker made about Trump’s record endorsing candidates ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
NBC News has defended “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker after President Donald Trump threatened to report her to the Federal Communications Commission over comments about his record of political endorsements. The confrontation has renewed concerns about presidential powers and the limits of the FCC’s authority over broadcast content.
The controversy began after Welker discussed Trump’s influence over the 2026 midterm elections during an appearance on a local NBC affiliate. While acknowledging that Trump would “loom large” over the elections, Kristen Welker noted that the president had experienced “some mixed results” when endorsing candidates in Republican primaries.
Trump objected to the characterization. In an Aug. 30 post on Truth Social, the president accused Welker of making a “purposeful inaccuracy” and said she would be reported to the FCC for “rebuke or punishment.” NBC News responded by defending its journalist.
“Kristen is one of the best in the business and we stand by her,” an NBC News spokesperson told USA TODAY. The FCC’s own explanation of its authority, however, raises questions about what action the agency could actually take against Welker personally.
The commission licenses individual broadcast stations rather than television networks such as NBC. The FCC also says its authority over program content is limited and that broadcasters, rather than the government, are responsible for selecting the material they air.
Trump’s dispute with Welker is also not new. In June, the president walked out of an interview with the “Meet the Press” moderator after she pressed him on claims concerning alleged election fraud in California. Welker later said Trump agreed to sit down for another interview.