President Trump has threatened to report NBC News' Meet the Press host Kristen Welker to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for "rebuke or punishment" after she stated that his endorsed candidates had "mixed results." The threat comes despite the FCC having no jurisdiction over individual journalists. According to an analysis by USA Today, Trump-endorsed gubernatorial candidates have fared worse than congressional candidates, winning only 79 percent of the time. This is another escalation in Trump's long-running assault on journalism, which has included targeting networks and demanding the FCC crack down on licenses.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-31,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
President Trump has threatened NBC News' Meet the Press host Kristen Welker with "punishment" by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over her reporting on his endorsement record in the midterm elections. In a social media post, Trump claimed that Welker said he had "mixed results" on his endorsements, despite previous statements from NBC News indicating that she only mentioned this during a pre-show live shot, not in the main broadcast. Trump boasted about his 98.35% congressional endorsement record and accused Welker of spreading "fake news." The FCC has no jurisdiction over broadcasters' content, but Trump is calling for punishment nonetheless. This incident highlights concerns about press freedom and Trump's attempts to intimidate and silence critical journalists.
Written for “Trump Targets Media Criticism” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.85 for article 3171 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-31
On Sunday, President Trump said that NBC News’ Meet the Press host Kristen Welker will be “reported” to the Federal Communications Commissions for “rebuke or punishment,” claiming she said that the candidates he endorsed had “mixed results” in this election cycle—despite the FCC having no such jurisdiction.
asserted
FCC → say → jurisdiction
“Kristen Welker, the Unpopular ‘Hostess’ of the once great Meet the Press, now considered Meet the Fake Press, just stated that
asserted
Welker → consider → Press
Donald Trump has ‘mixed results’ on his Endorsements of Candidates, when the recent WINS of Darline Graham and Mike Mazzei, stand at 100% for the U.S. Senate, and 98% for the U.S. House,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
asserted
Trump → mix → Social
“The Press is a Disgrace to our Nation, and I hope that Chairman Brendan Carr, and the fine people of his Commission, will take this Threat to our Country very seriously.
asserted
Carr → hope → Country
According to CNN’s Brian Stelter, Welker mentioned Trump’s “mixed” endorsement outcomes only during a pre-show live shot on NBC’s Washington, DC, affiliate station, not during the main broadcast itself.
uncertain
Welker → accord → broadcast
In his Truth Social post, Trump boasted that he has a 98.35 percent congressional endorsement record in 2026 Republican primaries.
asserted
he → boast → primaries
But Welker only cited previous NBC News reporting that notes that six Trump-backed candidates lost House and gubernatorial primaries in August.
asserted
candidates → cite → August
According to an analysis by USA Today, as of Sunday, Trump-endorsed gubernatorial candidates have fared worse than congressional candidates, only winning 79 percent of the time.
uncertain
candidates → accord → time
“He, of course, has endorsed a slate of candidates in the primaries.
asserted
He → endorse → primaries
He’s had some mixed results,” Welker said on NBC 4 Washington.
asserted
Welker → have → NBC
It sounds like a reasonable statement, especially as Welker explains later in the same remarks that Trump’s approval rating is at a record low over his second term as key issues like affordability remain largely unaddressed.
asserted
issues → sound → affordability
Trump’s threat is another escalation of his long-running assault on journalism—going after Welker personally as opposed to demanding the FCC crack down on networks like ABC, as has happened most often.
asserted
FCC → run → ABC
The FCC cannot legally punish Welker individually, as it regulates public broadcast licenses.
asserted
it → punish → licenses
ABC, and its corporate parent Disney, sued the FCC earlier this month, asserting that the Trump administration violated free speech rights by challenging its licenses over its news coverage and views presented on talks shows.
asserted
administration → sue → shows
And as my colleague Noah Lanard reported, FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke licenses for broadcasters “running hoaxes and news distortions” of the ongoing Iran War in March while pointing to Trump’s complaint about the reporting from “Fake News Media.”
And Noah’s point is a good one: “The goal is obvious: Turn independent news outlets into state propaganda machines.”
asserted
goal → report → machines
