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PoliticsTrump threatens NBC journalist Kristen Welker with FCC punishment over election coverage
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US President Donald Trump has threatened NBC journalist Kristen Welker with punishment by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) after she described his support for Republican candidates in the midterm elections as yielding 'mixed results.' Trump posted on Truth Social that Welker, moderator of 'Meet the Press,' made a 'deliberate inaccuracy' and that she would be reported to the FCC for reprimand or punishment. This is the latest in a series of Trump attacks on media outlets he considers critical or left-leaning, including lawsuits against newspapers and cuts to public broadcasting funding. The FCC, led by Trump confidant Brendan Carr, has previously threatened broadcasters with license revocation. Several broadcasters have sued the FCC, citing freedom of speech protections. The relationship between Trump and Welker has been strained since June when Trump abruptly ended an interview with her over questions about the Iran war.
Source report
Kristen Welker, moderator at NBC News, arrives on July 28, 2026, for the funeral of the late Senator Lindsey Graham. Source: picture alliance/AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta | Manuel Balce Ceneta
US President Donald Trump has threatened a prominent television journalist with punishment by the media regulatory authority, following dissatisfaction with coverage of candidates he supported in the midterm congressional elections.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday, Trump wrote that Kristen Welker—whom he described as "the unpopular 'moderator' of the once-respected program 'Meet the Press'"—had claimed his support for Republican candidates yielded "mixed results." Trump called this a "deliberate inaccuracy" and stated that the NBC reporter would be reported to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to be "reprimanded or punished."
Background of Tensions
Trump has repeatedly targeted media outlets he considers too critical or "left-leaning." His actions have included:
- Lawsuits against several newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times
- Funding cuts to public broadcasters
- Tighter restrictions on journalists at ministries and federal agencies, including the Pentagon and the FBI
- License revocation threats against broadcasters by the FCC, which is led by Trump confidant Brendan Carr
Growing Resistance
The pressure on the media is increasingly facing pushback. Several broadcasters have already sued the FCC, citing freedom of speech protections under the US Constitution.
Strained Relationship with Welker
The relationship between Trump and NBC journalist Kristen Welker has been tense for some time. In June, the president abruptly ended an interview with Welker after a heated exchange, during which he grew increasingly angered by her questions—particularly regarding the Iran war.
AFP/shem
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