US President Donald Trump abruptly ended a television interview with NBC after a tense exchange over his repeated claims of election fraud, bringing a weather-disrupted conversation to an early conclusion.
The interview, which aired on Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, was recorded on Friday at a farm in Wisconsin, where Trump had been meeting with farmers. The outdoor setting, featuring farm equipment and hay bales, was repeatedly affected by heavy rain, thunder and technical difficulties.
Despite the interruptions, the interview continued as host Kristen Welker questioned the president on a range of issues, including US policy toward Iran, military strategy and domestic political matters.
At several points, loud rain and thunder disrupted the conversation, prompting discussions about whether filming should be paused. Trump, however, suggested continuing, saying viewers would understand the challenges of conducting an interview on a farm.
The discussion became increasingly contentious when Welker pressed Trump on his claims regarding election fraud and a proposed taxpayer-funded programme to compensate individuals he believes were unfairly prosecuted during the administration of former President Joe Biden.
Trump repeated his longstanding assertions that the 2020 US presidential election was “rigged” and also alleged irregularities in a recent California primary election.
Welker challenged the claims and asked the president to provide evidence to support them, noting that there was no verified proof backing the allegations.
The exchange escalated as Trump accused the journalist and the media of bias. Moments later, he ended the interview, telling Welker that NBC was a “one-sided” and “crooked” network before standing up and walking away.
“You are either crooked or you’re stupid,” Trump said during the heated exchange before leaving the set.
Earlier in the interview, Trump defended his administration’s approach to foreign policy and rejected suggestions that he had promised to avoid military conflicts.
“I don’t like endless wars,” he said while discussing tensions involving Iran, adding that current military operations did not fit that description.
Following the broadcast, Welker informed viewers that she had spoken with Trump after the interview and that he had agreed to participate in another conversation at a later date.
The interview is the latest in a series of confrontational exchanges between Trump and major US media outlets as he continues to defend his political record and challenge coverage he considers unfair.
