A tense interview between President Donald Trump and NBC journalist Kristen Welker took an unexpected turn when a discussion about California’s election process became increasingly heated. During an appearance on Meet the Press, Trump criticized California’s voting system, arguing that ballots were still being counted several days after Election Day and suggesting that the process raised concerns about election integrity. He compared the situation to his long-standing criticisms of the 2020 election, insisting that what was happening in California was evidence of a flawed system.

Welker pushed back, explaining that California routinely accepts mail-in ballots and that counting often continues after Election Day. When she asked Trump for evidence supporting his claims, he responded that he only needed to “look” and “listen” to reach his conclusions. Welker immediately challenged that statement, telling him, “That’s not evidence.” The exchange quickly became more confrontational as both stood firm on their positions.

Frustrated by the questioning, Trump turned his criticism toward the media, telling Welker that journalists were “crooked.” When she rejected the accusation, Trump replied that she was “either crooked or stupid.” The tense back-and-forth continued for several moments before Trump announced that he had had enough of the interview. He thanked Welker sarcastically, criticized the press for being dishonest, and argued that no country could be great with a media he believed could not be trusted.

Moments later, Trump signaled to his staff, stood up, and walked away, abruptly ending the interview. Clips of the exchange quickly spread online, drawing strong reactions from both supporters and critics. Despite the dramatic ending, Welker later revealed that she and Trump spoke afterward and that he agreed to participate in another Meet the Press interview in the future.