The exchange, recorded for the long-running Sunday program, devolved into a clash over election integrity, a subject that has become a litmus test between establishment media and conservatives, according to WND. Welker pressed the president on the 2020 contest and ongoing vote counting in California, prompting Trump to reiterate his longstanding concerns about systemic abuse in the electoral process.
“It was a dirty election and it’s happening right now again in California,” Trump asserted, as the discussion turned to the state’s drawn-out ballot tally. “It’s four days [of counting votes],” he said, highlighting what many on the right view as a feature—not a bug—of mail-in-heavy systems that erode public confidence.
OLIVE GARDEN’S ‘NEVER-ENDING PASTA PASS’ SPARKS WILD SHOWDOWN OVER VOTER ID RULES
June 07, 2026
When Welker tried to counter with the claim that “Republicans are doing well in California,” Trump flatly rejected the narrative. “No they’re not. They’re dropping fast because it’s a rigged election. … They’re cheating on the election,” he replied, before challenging the legitimacy of any process that cannot produce timely results: “Do you think it’s appropriate that they have an election and five days later they’re nowhere close to picking a winner?”
WATCH: MAMDANI SPARKS OUTRAGE BY WEIGHING NETANYAHU ARREST IN NEW YORK
Welker responded with the standard bureaucratic defense, saying: “State and local officials acknowledge they are slow.” Trump was having none of it, firing back, “No, they’re crooked. Just like you’re crooked. Your press is crooked and ‘Meet the Press’ is crooked.”
TRUMP AND FIFA CHIEF DROP BOMBSHELL VERDICT ON US WORLD CUP — LEFT MELTS DOWN INSTANTLY
The NBC host protested, “To be fair, I’m not crooked.” Trump immediately sharpened his critique of the media’s role in shielding questionable election practices, saying, “Really? Well you play right into their hands then. You’re either crooked or you’re stupid. You play right into their hands with this crap. You know that these elections are rigged. Your network knows that they’re rigged.”
AFTER RATINGS COLLAPSE AND CHURCH MOB SCANDAL, DON LEMON NOW EYEING OVAL OFFICE (VIDEO)
The president then broadened his indictment to the national press corps, declaring, “Your elections in this country, we’re like a third-world country. Your elections are crooked, and you’re crooked and ‘Meet the Press’ is crooked and is so is ABC and CBS and CNN. You’re one-sided crooked networks. All right, let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough! Thank you darling, Have a good time!”
As Trump moved to end the interview, Welker shifted into pleading mode, saying, “Mr. President, let’s, please, I traveled all the way to Wisconsin!” Trump, underscoring both his patience and his frustration with legacy media, replied, “I’ve sat in the rain with you for an hour, and I’ve given you enough time. You ought to straighten out your press because you know what? A country can never be great with a dishonest press.”
With that, the president exited the set, leaving behind a stark reminder of the widening gulf between conservative America and the corporate media establishment that continues to dismiss or downplay concerns about election integrity.
