Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

LetMyPeopleVote

(183,111 posts)
100. MaddowBlog-On election claims, Trump triggered by 'evidence' callout on 'Meet the Press' interview
Mon Jun 8, 2026, 02:53 PM
4 hrs ago

Trump is sometimes confronted with a word that practically causes a presidential allergic reaction: “evidence.” Trouble soon follows.

Of course Triggered Trump abandoned his MTP interview: Kristen Welker used the one word that practically causes a presidential allergic reaction:

“Evidence.”
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-06-08T12:08:36.770Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-meet-the-press-interview-election-claims

In the years following his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump would routinely boast that he’d soon present evidence in support of his absurd electoral conspiracy theories. That never happened, of course, because there was no evidence to share: The Republican lost fair and square.....

Nearly three months later, the president sat down with NBC News’ Kristen Welker for his latest “Meet the Press” interview, and when the host dared to use the “e” word, he couldn’t simply shift his focus to a different reporter, so he instead abruptly ended the interview. MS NOW reported:

“You’re either crooked or you’re stupid,” Trump told Welker, who kept a cool demeanor despite the president’s barrage of disparaging slurs.

Moments before he attacked her, Trump — without providing any evidence — said he believes elections in the U.S. are rigged. Then he lambasted television news networks, singling out NBC, CBS and ABC.

“They’re crooked just like you’re crooked, your press is crooked. And ‘Meet the Press’ is crooked,” Trump said
.


In context, there was no great mystery as to what triggered the president and generated his interview-ending meltdown: After Trump wrapped up a conspiratorial rant about Jan. 6 rioters, Welker emphasized for viewers, “Just to be very clear, there’s no evidence of what you’re saying.” He was clearly not pleased......

And so, he unraveled, ultimately walking away from questions he simply wasn’t prepared to answer, raised by a journalist who dared to ask him to back up his baseless claims.

WOW - Trump crashes out & cuts his interview w/ Welker short as she presses him on his lack of evidence for claiming elections are rigged

"You're either crooked or you're stupid. I've had enough. Thank you darling," he tells her"

"I traveled all the way to Wisconsin for this interview," she pleads

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-06-07T14:50:42.139Z


It was a timely reminder of a few unavoidable observations. First, Trump tends not to do lengthy interviews with independent news organizations, which leaves him unprepared when they ask the kind of questions conservative outlets avoid.

Second, and relatedly, it’s no secret that the president has surrounded himself with sycophants and yes-men at the White House. He grew visibly enraged with Welker, not just because she professionally pushed back against obvious falsehoods, but also because she exposed Trump to reality in ways that obviously made him uncomfortable.

And third, amid public discussion about his mental fitness, the president’s furious reaction suggested he’s also struggling to regulate his emotional outbursts.

As for the near future, the unpleasant exchange on NBC News should hopefully lead to additional questions in which Trump is again pressed for the 2020 evidence he claims exists, but which he’s refused to show.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Looks good to his base, I'm sure. nt eppur_se_muova Yesterday #1
I'm sure this was why they scheduled it. IrishAfricanAmerican Yesterday #3
His ever-shrinking base Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Yesterday #45
From photos it appears his "base" is expanding Layzeebeaver Yesterday #58
You got me Traildogbob Yesterday #76
A Tim Conway-esque "storm" I presume. Hugin Yesterday #2
Omg I remember! Hilarious... AloeVera Yesterday #8
FaceBook Warning: So the 'yute are informed. Here's the reference. Hugin Yesterday #15
Loved Carol Burnett as a kid. Might start to watch again, need some laughs. AloeVera Yesterday #32
I've been thinking about doing that as well. Ilsa Yesterday #48
Misses SaaWiggins! PuraVidaDreamin Yesterday #80
Oh MAN, I LOVED that! calimary 15 hrs ago #96
That show was hilarious! I loved the way they would all crack each other up. travelingthrulife 8 hrs ago #99
TACO Tetrachloride Yesterday #4
Good for Welker. Totally embarrassing. I know what their spin will be underpants Yesterday #5
He's a drama queen. wnylib Yesterday #27
he really needs to smile more Biglinda 52 Yesterday #79
In his mind, strong, tough guys don't smile. wnylib Yesterday #81
His fanboys will say he owned the lib journalist. They live in BizzaroWorld where down is up and left is right. Raftergirl Yesterday #6
Exactly, girl Leghorn21 Yesterday #10
Even when she is in the right and is asking what passes for tough questions, displacedvermoter Yesterday #7
I'm Not A Fan Of Ms. Welker WiVoter Yesterday #11
Right you are, but don't forget stupid. He called her stupid too. AloeVera 22 hrs ago #83
I don't like her either but he assaulted her with a barrage of insults and lies. live love laugh 20 hrs ago #90
She should have given him a copy of the FBI Form 302 Submariner Yesterday #9
Goddamn, He's Painted Up A Glowing Orange Today WiVoter Yesterday #12
😡 underpants Yesterday #28
that's hysterical! orleans 18 hrs ago #92
HAH!!! GOOD one! calimary 17 hrs ago #94
Thanks for confirming that I wasn't imaging that! ShazzieB Yesterday #65
He just did the same thing at a talk with farmers. Blue Full Moon Yesterday #13
Excellent! To any sane person, Trump showed KPN Yesterday #14
Yeah, he's losing the ability to control himself. hamsterjill Yesterday #17
He isn't used to anyone talking back to him. ShazzieB Yesterday #67
We all know he's a big bully hamsterjill Yesterday #68
Or lack of character. 3catwoman3 Yesterday #30
All qualities.... SergeStorms Yesterday #72
And the global chorus sings . . . Aussie105 20 hrs ago #87
Republican voters who wake up to Trump's utter incompetence and unfitness need to remember... Beartracks Yesterday #73
His evidence should have gone to the FBI. Previously, it didn't make it to the courts. Festivito Yesterday #16
I guess he forgot who was president on Jan. 6 Ghost of Tom Joad Yesterday #59
Not storm. Lumbers. kairos12 Yesterday #18
Shambles. n/t Hugin Yesterday #20
The body is almost as bad as the brain. I don't know why there is little notice of Bluetus Yesterday #37
Fuck the MSM. They created this deviant called trump, and now are surprised when the lostincalifornia Yesterday #19
The illusion of engagement PATRICK Yesterday #21
The mind of this man lives in total fantasy. It will get worse. FloridaBlues Yesterday #22
Keep up the pressure!! paleotn Yesterday #23
The POS is just connecting the MAGA dog whistles with GOP gibberish to rile up the base so they turn out in November. ChicagoTeamster Yesterday #24
Oh, look, toddler throwing a temper tantrum because an adult is making him mwmisses4289 Yesterday #25
What a name-calling, 10-year-old crybaby debsy Yesterday #26
Trump is playing to his base. AverageOldGuy Yesterday #29
This is just theater and a failing brain. The real question is ... Bluetus Yesterday #31
Reminds me of George HW Bush "storming" off set during an interview with Dan Rather. Midnight Writer Yesterday #33
WE'VE had enough! hermetic Yesterday #34
He's easily the biggest embarrassment this country has ever produced LymphocyteLover Yesterday #35
Isn't irritability and uncontrolled anger a major symptom of dementia? Bayard Yesterday #36
Nope, since I have those symptoms on a daily basis here on DU. (outside sources, of course) efhmc Yesterday #41
Don't we all? Bayard Yesterday #46
Trump's fabulist schtick has become so transparent and tiresome, it just isn't working any more, no one's buying his BS. sop Yesterday #38
In other words Ray Bruns Yesterday #39
Or rather... Wednesdays Yesterday #57
This really hits home for me and my husband right now. ihaveaquestion Yesterday #40
Damn right it is exhausting! Aussie105 20 hrs ago #88
I will bet that she's going to apologize. choie Yesterday #42
The President of the United States has the maturity of a four year old, why hasn't the GOP impeached him yet? Uncle Joe Yesterday #43
WHEN OH WHEN orangecrush Yesterday #44
Wow! That's presidential! Grim Chieftain Yesterday #47
trump didn't just walk out of the interview with Kristen Welker, he THREW the microphone on the floor and STEPPED ON IT LetMyPeopleVote Yesterday #49
I'm waiting for the interview when Ilsa Yesterday #50
I don't know if there was a video of this anywhere, but from just reading it, I felt proud of Kristen Welker. 1WorldHope Yesterday #51
After taking that abuse from him she was begging him not to walk out. enough Yesterday #53
To me that was professional decorum. 1WorldHope Yesterday #55
Storms? He could barely stand up. IbogaProject Yesterday #52
One blow up closer to ________________________ flatlining. twodogsbarking Yesterday #54
Just fucking die already you miserable pedophile piece of shit Blue Owl Yesterday #56
Time for the 25th. Time for the net and straight jacket. He's a raving lunatic. sinkingfeeling Yesterday #60
I've fantasized about Dump being interiewed with... AdamGG Yesterday #61
Thete is absolurely no evidence of Trump's claim or any other claims he makes. hadEnuf Yesterday #62
Did you order the code red *You're God damn right I did!* twodogsbarking Yesterday #63
Roy Cohn is looking up from Hell and smiling. LudwigPastorius Yesterday #64
Thin-skinned fascist fuck. Can't last more than two seconds if someone so much as dares to push back anymore, even in Karasu Yesterday #66
The makeup! And those eye bags! ShazzieB Yesterday #69
I Wish Samuel L. Jackson Was MTP Host WiVoter Yesterday #70
Edgy because he stepped in it in Iran. Sneederbunk Yesterday #71
Fuck ALMIGHTY is he fragile....SOME would say: a snowflake.... democratsruletheday Yesterday #74
This is what the media should have been doing to him a decade ago. progressoid Yesterday #75
So have we, ya ol' fart Jilly_in_VA Yesterday #77
Shut up, PIGGY! BigmanPigman Yesterday #78
Whiny crybaby. louis-t Yesterday #82
"Where's the evidence" OAITW r.2.0 22 hrs ago #84
Historical would have been when he tapped her shoulder 3825-87867 21 hrs ago #85
The way he walked out, not quite upright-- IzzaNuDay 21 hrs ago #86
Trump's version of reality isn't like that of a normal person. Aussie105 20 hrs ago #89
Nanna-Nanna Boo-Boo? czarjak 19 hrs ago #91
when i read he was gonna be on today i thought fuck that orleans 18 hrs ago #93
How much more evidence does this country need Mtnmama 15 hrs ago #95
It's embarrassing. SamuelAdams 11 hrs ago #97
Trump is far too emotionally unstable to be president dlk 9 hrs ago #98
MaddowBlog-On election claims, Trump triggered by 'evidence' callout on 'Meet the Press' interview LetMyPeopleVote 4 hrs ago #100
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»'I've Had Enough!' Trump ...»Reply #100