That Comment Angered Trump: He Threatened the Famous Host

The tension between U.S. President Donald Trump and the American media escalated again ahead of the November midterm elections. Trump targeted NBC News host Kristen Welker, whom he disliked for her assessment of the performance of the Republican candidates he supports in the elections. Trump announced that Welker would be reported to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Election Commentary That Angered Trump

The spark of the tension was ignited by NBC's "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker's assessment of the outcomes of Trump's support for Republican candidates.

Welker noted that the candidates Trump backs had "mixed results" in the primaries, and added that his support for Senator Darline Graham had yielded a successful outcome. Welker also said that Trump would carry significant weight for the Republican Party in the November midterms.

Trump, however, reacted sharply to the assessment. Speaking from his Truth Social account, the President claimed that the races of the candidates he supports had turned out in his favor by 98% to 100%.

Will be Reported to the FCC

Trump targeted Welker with the remark that he was 'the disliked host of the once great program Meet the Press'.

Trump, who labeled Welker’s assessment a 'deliberate mistake', said, 'This deliberate mistake will be reported to the FCC for condemnation or punishment.'

Trump went further, targeting a major segment of American media and alleged that a deliberately negative stance was being presented in stories about him.

Trump also said he expected FCC Chair Brendan Carr and commission members to take the matter 'very seriously'.

NBC News Stood Behind Welker.

After Trump’s remarks, NBC News sent support to Welker.

An NBC News spokesperson, speaking to AFP on the condition that his name not be disclosed, said, "Kristen is one of the best in this industry and we stand behind her."

Award‑winning journalist Kristen Welker is among the names closely familiar to American politics. Welker also moderated the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden during the 2020 election.

Some of Trump’s Endorsed Candidates Lost

Trump claimed that most of the candidates he backed in the Republican Party’s primary contests were successful, yet some candidates left the race after a defeat at the polls.

According to data reported in the story, at least ten of the candidates Trump supported lost their races in this election cycle. Among them are four House candidates and six gubernatorial candidates.

However, it is noted that Trump’s support provides a significant political advantage for many Republican candidates vying for statewide offices.

The tension between Trump and the American media is growing.

The final exit marked the latest chapter in the long‑running tension between Trump and several major U.S. media outlets.

During his presidency, Trump frequently labeled critical coverage of him as “fake news,” and he entered into legal battles with various newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Steps taken by his administration regarding federal funds provided to the news media also sparked controversy.

Some publishers have sued the Trump administration over its actions targeting media outlets. At the heart of the criticism is the claim that the administration’s pressure on media organizations conflicts with the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and of the press.

Can the FCC Really Punish a Journalist?

What the legal repercussions will be is controversial.

Although the FCC has licensing and regulatory authority over radio and television broadcasting in ABD, legal experts point out that the agency has no power to punish its journalists solely for the views they express or the political assessments they make.

In a 2025 assessment published in the Yale Journal on Regulation, the assessment also drew attention to Supreme Court precedent indicating that ABD laws do not grant the FCC general authority to prohibit controversial statements.

The tension between Trump and Welker is not new. As the pair's relationship has hardened in recent months, Trump abruptly ended an interview with Welker in June, especially after questions about Iran.

As political tension rises toward the November midterm elections, Trump's latest statement is expected to reignite debates about the impact on press freedom, media regulation, and politics' influence on broadcasting outlets in ABD.