US President Donald Trump abruptly walked out of a televised interview with Kristen Welker after a heated exchange over his claims of election fraud in California. The incident took place during NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday and quickly drew attention for its sharp tone and dramatic ending.

The interview began with Trump criticising California’s vote-counting process, saying results were taking too long. He alleged that the delay was due to “cheating” in the elections. Welker pushed back, explaining that California follows a longer counting process due to mail-in ballots and verification steps.

What triggered the heated exchange?

As the discussion intensified, Welker repeatedly asked Trump to provide evidence to support his claims that elections were rigged. Trump responded by saying, “All I have to do is look,” adding that he relies on what he hears from others. However, he did not present any concrete proof.

Welker countered that there is no verified evidence of widespread election fraud in the United States. Trump, in turn, questioned whether it was acceptable for election results to take several days, asking if such delays were appropriate.

Why did Trump walk out of the interview?

The conversation soon turned personal. Trump accused California election officials and the media of being “crooked.” He also directed harsh remarks at Welker, calling her “crooked” and “stupid.” When she responded, saying she was not crooked, Trump escalated his remarks further.

Visibly frustrated, Trump ended the interview abruptly, saying, “I’ve had enough. Thank you, darling,” before removing his microphone and tossing it aside. Despite Welker’s attempts to continue, Trump refused and walked away.

Has Trump clashed with journalists before?

This is not the first time Trump has had confrontations with the media. Recently, he also criticised Kaitlan Collins of CNN, calling the network “corrupt” during another press interaction.

First published on: Jun 08, 2026 09:24 AM IST

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