Trump Abruptly Ends 'Meet the Press' Interview (Connecting the Dots: NBC, Meet the Press, Kristen Welker, Harvard University, The ONE Campaign, IRS & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

Trump Abruptly Ends 'Meet the Press' Interview (Connecting the Dots: NBC, Meet the Press, Kristen Welker, Harvard University, The ONE Campaign, IRS & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

By Newsmax Wires    |   Sunday, 07 June 2026 04:13 PM EDT

https://www.newsmax.com/politics/trump-meet-the-press-interview/2026/06/07/id/1258856/

President Donald Trump cut short an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" that aired Sunday after a contentious exchange with host Kristen Welker over Jan. 6 defendants, election integrity, and a proposed compensation fund for individuals he says were targeted by politically motivated prosecutions.

"Let's call it quits because I've had enough," Trump said after several minutes of back-and-forth. "Thank you, darling. Have a good time."

The president then stood up and left the interview, which was taped Friday inside a barn in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, before he participated in a roundtable discussion with farmers.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while an NBC spokesperson declined comment.

Tensions escalated when Welker questioned Trump about a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for people he believes were unfairly prosecuted by the federal government.

The Justice Department previously agreed to establish the fund as part of a settlement related to Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, though implementation has faced legal challenges and opposition from some Republican senators.

Trump said he continues to support the effort.

"If it was up to me, I'd pay them the kind of money that they deserve," Trump said. "If they get it approved, that's great. If they don't get it approved, I'd be disappointed."

Welker also asked whether individuals convicted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol protest — including those who pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers — could qualify for compensation.

Trump argued that many Jan. 6 defendants were treated unfairly and were pressured into plea agreements.

"The people were destroyed by dirty cops and by weaponization," Trump said. "Many of those people should be compensated."

The discussion later shifted to election integrity. Trump reiterated his claim that both the 2020 presidential election and California's recent primary election were improperly conducted. Welker challenged those assertions, saying there was no evidence that either election was rigged.

Trump pointed to lengthy ballot-counting periods as a reason for concern, particularly in California, where vote counting continued days after Election Day under state law allowing properly postmarked mail ballots to arrive up to a week later.

"All I have to do is look," Trump said.

"But that's not evidence," Welker responded.

The exchange grew increasingly heated, with Trump criticizing NBC and other media outlets before taking off his microphone and ending the interview.

Heavy rain could be heard striking the barn's metal roof throughout much of the roughly 50-minute interview. Speaking afterward at the farmers event, Trump joked that the weather may have contributed to his frustration.

"Because it was raining, I got a little bit angry at them," Trump said Friday. "I was not happy with them. But we had a good time."

Kristen Welker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristen_Welker.

Kristen Welker is a journalist working for the NBC News, the host of Meet the Press and received her BA from Harvard University.

Meet the Press is an NBC News program.

NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of NBC.

Jeff Zucker was the president & CEO for NBCUniversal, an executive producer for the NBC Nightly News and is a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Brian Williams is the anchor for the NBC Nightly News and a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Robin Hood Foundation.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Emma Bloomberg was a senior planning officer for the Robin Hood Foundation, is Michael R. Bloomberg’s daughter and a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation.

Michael R. Bloomberg was a donor for the Robin Hood Foundatio, is Emma Bloomberg’s father and the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation.

Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Walter Isaacson was a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, the chairman & CEO for CNN and is the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

James S. Crown is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), Lester Crown’s son and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago. 

Lester Crown was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), is James S. Crown’s father and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago and counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Newton N. Minow was a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Cameron F. Kerry is a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), John F. Kerry’s brother and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

C. Douglas Dillon was the chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and an overseer at Harvard University.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. is a professor at Harvard University and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Paul E. Peterson was a director of governmental studies at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and is a professor at Harvard University.

Lawrence H. Summers was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and is a professor; former president of Harvard University.

Ann M. Fudge is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was an overseer at Harvard University.

John C. Whitehead is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was the chairman for Harvard University.

Harold H. Koh was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), the State Department legal adviser for the Barack Obama administration and an overseer for Harvard University.

Herbert M. Kaplan is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a board of fellow’s member for Harvard Medical School.

Cass R. Sunstein is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a professor at Harvard Medical School.

Lynn Bendheim Thoman is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a board of fellow’s member for Harvard Medical School.

Howard E. Cox Jr. is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a board of fellow’s member for Harvard Medical School.

Kenneth M. Duberstein is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a senior advisory committee member for the Harvard University Institute of Politics.

Kristen Welker received her BA from Harvard University, is a journalist working for the NBC News and the host of Meet the Press.

Meet the Press is an NBC News program.

NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of NBC.

Jeff Zucker was the president & CEO for NBCUniversal, an executive producer for the NBC Nightly News and is a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Brian Williams is the anchor for the NBC Nightly News and a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Tom Brokaw was the anchor for the NBC Nightly News, the interim host for Meet the Press, a director at the Robin Hood Foundation and is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Robin Hood Foundation and the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

International Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign and a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Newton N. Minow was a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, is a friend of Michael Douglas and the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Morton H. Halperin is a senior adviser for the Open Society Foundations, a director at the ONE Campaign and served with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Michael R. Bloomberg is an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

Howard G. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign and Warren E. Buffett’s son.

Susan A. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign and Warren E. Buffett’s daughter.

Warren E. Buffett is Howard G. Buffett & Susan A. Buffett’s father and an adviser at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the International Rescue Committee and the Robin Hood Foundation.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

International Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Tom Brokaw is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, was the anchor for the NBC Nightly News, the interim host for Meet the Press and a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

International Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Sheryl K. Sandberg is a director at the ONE Campaign and was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and is a director at the ONE Campaign.

Helene D. Gayle is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a director at the ONE Campaign.

Lawrence H. Summers is a director at the ONE Campaign, was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the and a professor; former president for Harvard University.

C. Douglas Dillon was the chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and

an overseer at Harvard University.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. is a professor at Harvard University and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Paul E. Peterson was a director of governmental studies at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and is a professor at Harvard University.

Ann M. Fudge is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was an overseer at Harvard University.

John C. Whitehead is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was the chairman for Harvard University.

Harold H. Koh was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), the State Department legal adviser for the Barack Obama administration and an overseer for Harvard University.

Herbert M. Kaplan is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a board of fellow’s member for Harvard Medical School.

Cass R. Sunstein is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a professor at Harvard Medical School.

Lynn Bendheim Thoman is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a board of fellow’s member for Harvard Medical School.

Howard E. Cox Jr. is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a board of fellow’s member for Harvard Medical School.

Kenneth M. Duberstein is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a senior advisory committee member for the Harvard University Institute of Politics.

Kristen Welker received her BA from Harvard University, is a journalist working for the NBC News and the host of Meet the Press.

Meet the Press is an NBC News program.

NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of NBC.

Sundance Channel is a partner with NBCUniversal.

Robert Redford is a partner with the Sundance Channel, the founder & president of the Sundance Institute and a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Sundance Institute, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Judith Rodin was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and is a director at the Comcast Corporation.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP.

Savannah Guthrie was an attorney for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, the White House correspondent for the NBC News, is a co-host for Today and married to Michael Feldman.

NBC News is a subsidiary of NBC.

Kristen Welker is a journalist working for the NBC News, the host of Meet the Press and received her BA from Harvard University.

Meet the Press is an NBC News program.

Michael Feldman is married to Savannah Guthrie and was Albert A. Gore Jr’s deputy director of legislative affairs.

Albert A. Gore Jr.’s deputy director of legislative affairs was Michael Feldman, a donor for The Climate Project, is the chairman for the Climate Reality Project and a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Climate Reality Project.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers was a donor for The Climate Project.

The Climate Project is a merged organization with the Climate Reality Project.

Colin L. Powell was the strategic adviser for Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and an overseer for the International Rescue Committee.

Tom Brokaw is an overseer for the International Rescue Committee, was an anchor for the NBC Nightly News and a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee and the Robin Hood Foundation.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Clifford S. Asness is a director at the International Rescue Committee, supported same-sex marriage in New York and was a leadership council member at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Jeff Zucker is a director emeritus for the Robin Hood Foundation and was the president & CEO for NBCUniversal.

NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of NBC.

Meet the Press is an NBC News program.

Kristen Welker is the host of Meet the Press, a journalist working for the NBC News and received her BA from Harvard University.

Lawrence H. Summers is a professor; former president of Harvard University and was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the founder of the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

David M. Rubenstein is the co-chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a regent at the Smithsonian Institution.

Xavier Becerra is a regent for the Smithsonian Institution, a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and was the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary for the Joe Biden administration.

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by the Economic Policy Institute.

Richard J. Durbin is a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and Charles E. Schumer’s Washington housemate.

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by the Economic Policy Institute.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations. 

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute.

Charles E. Schumer is Richard J. Durbin’s Washington Housemate, signed the $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Bill and was the Senate Minority leader.

The $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Bill Congress Just Passed Includes $470 Million for America’s Arts and Culture Sector

The relief package also includes $1,400 checks for most Americans.

News.artnet.com

Sarah Cascone March 10, 2021

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., celebrate signing the American Rescue Plan Act at a bill enrollment ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol after the House passed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Photo by Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images.

https://news.artnet.com/art-world-archives/stimulus-package-includes-big-bucks-nea-1950807

December’s aid package also had $15 billion in funding for live music venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions; and provided authorization for the Women’s History Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino, two new Smithsonian museums to be built on or near the National Mall in Washington, DC.

Nancy Pelosi signed the $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Bill, was the minority leader for the U.S. House of Representatives, and invited to George Soros’s 2013 wedding reception.

Charles E. Schumer signed the $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Bill, was the Senate Minority leader and is Richard J. Durbin’s Washington Housemate.

Richard J. Durbin is Charles E. Schumer’s Washington housemate, a U.S. Senate senator and a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. 

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by the Economic Policy Institute.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations. 

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute.

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by the Economic Policy Institute.

Xavier Becerra is a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, a regent for the Smithsonian Institution and was the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary for the Joe Biden administration.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations. 

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute and the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Philip A. Odeen is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was the chairman for the AES Corporation.

Philip Lader is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a director at the AES Corporation.

Charles O. Rossotti  is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), the chairman for the AES Corporation and was the commissioner for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

John A. Koskinen is a director at the AES Corporation and was the commissioner for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

John Koskinen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Koskinen

On December 23, 2013, Koskinen was sworn in as the 48th IRS Commissioner after being nominated by President Barack Obama.

Resources: Past Research

Jeb Bush: Michael Bloomberg A ‘Good Man’ And A ’Patriot’ (Past Research on the Bloomberg Family Foundation)

Sunday, January 24, 2016

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2016/01/jeb-bush-michael-bloomberg-good-man-and.html

Trump Admin Threatens Harvard With Funding Cuts (Connecting the Dots: Harvard University, Columbia University, Obamacare & Soros Funding) (Past Research on Harvard University)

Friday, April 4, 2025

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/04/trump-admin-threatens-harvard-with.html

Report: 'Meet The Press' May Get Axed (Past Research on NBC & Meet The Press)

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2013/12/report-meet-press-may-get-axed.html

Democrat Xavier Becerra Advances in Calif. Gov Race (Connecting the Dots: Xavier Becerra, Gavin Newsom, Richard J. Durbin, Charles E. Schumer, The Smithsonian Institution, The $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Bill, Nancy Pelosi & The Carnegie/Soros Network) (Past Research on the Aspen Institute (think tank) & the Carnegie Corporation of New York)

Saturday, June 6, 2026

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2026/06/democrat-xavier-becerra-advances-in.html

Minneapolis-Area Hotels Shut Down Over Safety Issues (Connecting the Dots: Hilton, Crown Family, Commercial Club of Chicago, Aspen Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on Lester Crown & the Commercial Club of Chicago)

Monday, January 26, 2026

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2026/01/minneapolis-area-hotels-shut-down-over.html

Hours After John Kerry Demands Green Transition Accelerated – His Emissions Closet Swings Wide Open (Connecting the Dots: Cameron Kerry, John Kerry, Teresa Heinz Kerry, Soros, the Climate Reality Project, the Brookings Institution (think tank), the EPA and onto the FDA, Pfizer & Johnson & Johnson. It’s the Network That Never Ends. One Project (Climate Change) Just bleeds into the Next (Covid Project)) (Past Research on Cameron Kerry)

Thursday, July 21, 2022

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2022/07/hours-after-john-kerry-demands-green.html

Sen. Warren Presses Amazon on Algorithmic Pricing for Schools (Connecting the Dots: Senator Elizabeth Warren, Ganesh Sitaraman, The Center for American Progress, Amazon, HUD, The U.S. Federal Trade Commission, The Urban Institute, The U.S. Department of Education & The Carnegie/Soros Network) (Past Research on the Carnegie Corporation New York)

Thursday, March 12, 2026

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2026/03/sen-warren-presses-amazon-on.html

Dr. Morton Halperin – J Street Education Fund (Connecting the Dots: J Street, Morton Halperin, The Open Society Foundations, Newsmax’s Mark Halperin, Rhonda (Randi) Weingarten, The ONE Campaign, MSNBC, ACLU, The Carnegie & Soros Funding) (Past Research on the ONE Campaign)

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/06/dr-morton-halperin-j-street-education.html

Democrat Xavier Becerra Advances in Calif. Gov Race (Connecting the Dots: Xavier Becerra, Gavin Newsom, Richard J. Durbin, Charles E. Schumer, The Smithsonian Institution, The $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Bill, Nancy Pelosi & The Carnegie/Soros Network) (Past Research on Xavier Becerra & the Smithsonian Institution)

Saturday, June 6, 2026

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2026/06/democrat-xavier-becerra-advances-in.html

Eye-popping twist in hunt for 'missing' IRS emails (Past Research on the IRS)

Sunday, September 7, 2014

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2014/09/eye-popping-twist-in-hunt-for-missing.html